In what could be the most visible sign of the factious debate over the Crescent City Connection tolls, the lamps that outline and illuminate the iconic span may be turned off Friday night, partially cloaking the bridge in darkness. The notion that one of the state's most prominent symbols could fade to black as thousands of entrepreneurs, businesspeople and...
In what could be the most visible sign of the factious debate over the Crescent City Connection tolls, the lamps that outline and illuminate the iconic span may be turned off Friday night, partially cloaking the bridge in darkness. The notion that one of the state's most prominent symbols could fade to black as thousands of entrepreneurs, businesspeople and investors flood the city for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week could be a major setback to a community still basking in the glow of Super Bowl 2013, some say.
The Crescent City Connection's decorative lights could go out Friday night after toll collection was suspended on the bridge last week. But the Young Leadership Council is mounting an effort to try to keep the lights on temporarily.
"We think those lights are more than just decorative. It's a symbol of the success of New Orleans,'' said Richard Pavlick, president of the Young Leadership Council. "It's become an iconic structure in that it says we're a strong city, we're a vibrant city and we're open for business.''
The council, which raised nearly $500,000 to erect the lights on the bridge in 1989, is now leading a "Save the Lights'' campaign and lobbying non profits and businesses to temporarily stave off the disconnection.
"This isn't the permanent solution,'' Pavlick said, adding the group wants to bring parties together to find a long-term solution.
The $22 million in tolls paid annually by east bank bound motorists financed bridge operations, maintenance, lighting, landscaping and capital projects. That ended March 5 when a judge threw out last fall's referendum that continued the tolls, ruling that legally registered voters had been denied the chance to vote on the issue when they were given provisional ballots. As such, it was impossible to determine the election's outcome, which passed by 36 votes out of more than 308,000.
On May 4, residents will vote again on the issue.
As the nation's fifth busiest bridge, supporters say it's a critical economic artery that needs more care than the strapped state budget can provide. With a $12 billion backlog of state infrastructure needs, toll backers argue the CCC would have tough fight to land financing for its projects.
But opponents argue bridge users, particularly West Bank residents, have paid enough, now that the bridge is debt free. They also cite the millions of dollars that motorists regionwide pay in gasoline taxes and license and registration fees that should be used to sustain bridge operations.
Proponents point to reduced lighting as one of many cutbacks in services people will notice in the coming months with the suspension of tolls. And since state law prohibits the use of transportation trust money for lighting, the entire 13-mile CCC corridor would have gone dark if the Regional Planning Commission had not voted this week to use a $5 million transition fund to pay for limited lighting, grass cutting and other services for the next 15 months if the toll extension is shot down May 4.
State officials have said the Algiers-Canal Street and
Gretna-Canal Street ferries will end service July 1 after using up their final toll funding. Legislation passed last year banned the future use of toll money for the ferries, but created a special fund to pay for the Algiers-Canal Street line had the toll passed. The cost of the Algiers-Chalmette line will be picked up by the transportation department.
Assistant Transportation Secretary Rhett Desselle said lighting costs run about $60,000 annually, including $15,000 for the energy bill.
Pavlick said the responsibility for lighting belongs to the state in a promise it made to the council when it took on the project. But a transportation department spokeswoman said that agreement with the former Mississippi River Bridge Authority is no longer valid, since that board was abolished last year through legislation and the RPC designated adviser on CCC matters.
To have the bridge dark when people are looking to invest in the city sends the wrong message, Pavlick said. "It's more than about keeping the lights on,'' he warned, stressing that the council is taking no stance on the toll issue.
Thomas Jahncke, president of Crescent Energy Services in Belle Chasse, offered to pay the bridge's decorative lighting bill for a month. He said the amount is small compared to the impact of darkening a large part of the cityscape. He challenged oil field service companies, particularly on Engineers Road in Belle Chasse where his company is located, to step up and each cover a month of utilities.
Jahncke said the bridge lights are as symbolic of New Orleans as an illuminated Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. "It's such a big statement on who we are and what the thing is all about,'' he said.
He said he remember the sense of civic pride during the YLC's campaign to put lights on the bridge. The company he worked for at the time held a golf tournament to raise money for the project.
"It was just a great idea, one that you could really wrap your arms around,'' Jahncke said. "We all chipped in.''
YLC turned on the switch, illuminating the 252 lights, on July 3, 1989, to much fanfare. Chris Johnsen and Pres Kabacoff were credited with leading the effort.
Al Leone, a former candidate for Jefferson Parish president, told the Jefferson Parish Council Wednesday he would lobby Entergy or another corporate partner to subsidize the lighting expense, and honor that contribution with a Spirit Award from the Old Capitol Foundation Board on which he sits.
Calling it a gateway to the region, Leone said the bridge welcomes visitors at night traveling by airplane or strolling along the riverfront.
"It's beautification of the city. We don't need negativity publicity over something like this,'' he said.