Seven Louisiana parish leaders gathered Wednesday to ask the next governor to establish passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
The news conference was held in Gonzales. Officials from Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James and St. John the Baptist were in attendance.
The parish leaders who took part in the news conference were:
- East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden
- Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez
- Buddy Boé, representing St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr.
- Mark Drewes, representing Jefferson Parish President John Young
- St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom
- St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel
- State Rep. Walt Leger, representing New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Also taking part was Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, a multi-state agency that advocates for passenger rail throughout the South.
They cited billions of dollars in planned industrial development throughout the region as the reason the service is so crucial.Copyright 2015 WAFB. All rights reserved.
