Few Passengers, Lack of Staff, Force Ferry Route Closure
The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) announce that the White Castle ferry will close permanently on Friday, June 21, 2013.
Due to the resignation of ferry staff, the White Castle ferry which was originally scheduled to close permanently on Friday, June 28, will cease service on Friday, June 21. Ferry employees were originally scheduled to be laid off after service ended.
The ferry is being closed based on recommendations from the Streamlining Committee citing low ferry ridership and a reasonable alternative river crossing. These recommendations were approved by the Legislature. Closing the ferry will save the state approximately $1.3 million per year.
In the past few years, DOTD has begun to implement the Streamlining CommissionÂ’s recommendations to close specific ferries that do not provide state or regional transportation connectivity and are primarily local transit services. The state closed the St. Francisville and Melville ferries which saved Louisiana taxpayers approximately $2.7 million. In addition to the White Castle ferry, the Edgard/Reserve ferry is scheduled for closure in 2013. Closing these ferries will save taxpayers more than $3.5 million a year combined.
Operations will continue as normal until the date of closure. The ferry operates from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
After June 21, motorists wishing to cross the river will need to take an alternate route. The nearest river crossing is north of the ferry landing via the Plaquemine ferry.
