Terrebonne Parish looks to buy eight new buses

Terrebonne Parish’s public transit fleet is about to get an upgrade. The parish is purchasing eight new, medium-sized buses, complete with security camera.

The buses will be bought with a $2.7 million Federal Transit Administration grant, which the parish has applied for.

According to parish officials, each bus will have a Safety Vision Route Recorder installed, which includes five color cameras and a backup monitor.

The plans were announced last Wednesday at the Terrebonne Parish Council’s meeting.

In other business, the council alerted citizens parking in the lot behind the government tower that a new two-hour parking limit will be strictly enforced.

After complaints about a shortage of parking in the area, parish council members agreed the limit needed to be adhered to.

Those who exceed the two-hour limit could find their vehicle ticketed, or even face two days in the parish jail.

First offenders of the new parking limit will face a $25 ticket, or a day or two in the

parish jail, according to the ordinance.

Second offenders will face a $100 fine, or up to five days in the parish jail.

The two-hour time limit will be in effect weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the parking lot located at 8026 Main St.

Houma Police Chief Patrick Boudreaux will provide enforcement personnel who will monitor the two-hour limit, Parish Manager Barry Blackwell said.

Blackwell said that Chase Bank, which occupies part of the bottom floor of the tower building, also requested assistance, to prevent disruptions at the bank.

Parish President Don Schwab said the parking lot will be properly signed to inform

all tenants and visitors of the new policy. Signs will also show the public

where to park if they will be at the facility longer than two hours, namely the

top floor of the parking garage.

“With all employees and tenants of the building being fortunate enough to have assigned parking in the parish’s adjacent parking garage, there is no need for any of these same people to park on the street level. The spaces behind the tower have always been intended to serve the customers of both the government and our building tenants,” Schwab said in a letter to government tower occupants, dated Feb 27.

The parish president also cautioned that the parking lot on the Barrow Street side of the building is for the exclusive use of Chase Bank customers. He said it is not a parish-owned parking lot.

Meanwhile, in other business, Council Clerk Paul Labat issued a request to the council to consider moving the public address podium to one side of the council platform. The clerk also asked the council to consider purchasing a new podium, on rollers, and upgrading the camera system in the council chambers.

By relocating the podium, Labat said citizens could face the council and parish administrators simultaneously.