New Iberia City Attorney Ted Haik is drafting a resolution requesting a variance from the state Department of Transportation and Development that would limit or set time frames for blockage of railroad crossings.

New Iberia and Jeanerette, Haik said at this week’s City Council meeting, “are unique in that the railroad cuts the city in half.”

He said New Iberia would have a “real good basis” for a variance of Louisiana Revised Statute 48:391, the law that would be amended.

Bill Smith / The Daily Iberian - Traffic comes to a halt on Thursday afternoon after 5 p.m. when the railroad moves some cars around. Advertisement

Councilwoman Therese Segura, in whose district the problem of blockage largely exists, said Thursday that railway activities around the spur can block traffic from Daspit Road to the Jane, Fulton, Main and St. Peter streets crossings. She said the crossings can be blocked at times for up to 40 minutes. A weigh station in the area also contributes to the problem.

Mayor Hilda Curry said she has met with DOTD representatives and they are in the process of moving the weigh station to the Baldwin area.

City officials say that even with a change, there are potential problems monitoring and enforcing the law.

Segura said there have been incidents with ambulances having problems, school buses arriving late to Daspit Elementary School, and that businesses along Jane Street have complained about the blockage affecting them.

“It’s become a huge problem,” she said Thursday. “I would love to see it moved ... but don’t know if that would ever take place.”

She said moving the tracks would not affect local businesses adversely because most businesses that used the railroad previously no longer do. If it were moved, businesses that do use it would be considered.

“We’re not trying to put anybody out of business,” Curry said this morning.

Reving Broussard Jr., resident of and business owner in the Jane Street area, said that every day from 7 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. the track is blocked. He said his employees can’t get to work or home and it hinders his delivery truck.

Broussard also said that many businesses over the years have chosen to leave because they don’t have access to U.S. 90 or Louisiana 182. In his opinion, the best option is to move the spur.

“It’s not a matter of life and death today, but it is a matter of prosperity,” he said. “I’m not after the track people or the train people, I’m after some relief. It’s not a major track ... it could be anywhere, other than the heart of New Iberia ... you don’t put a switching track crossing a state highway.”

He said the area no longer needs the track.

Councilman Ernest Wilson asked about the possibility of moving that stretch of track outside the city.

“We’d love to see the tracks moved out of the city limits,” Curry said, but added that it would be costly.

“Quality of life is not too good when you’re impaired each and every day, twice a day, by a train,” Broussard said.

“We have a decision to make: move or eat it.”

“For whatever reason, railroad people have a hold on everyone,” Segura said. “They talk a good talk, but a lot doesn’t happen.”

Segura suggested at Tuesday’s meeting that the council speak to the supervisor of Acadian Ambulance, the principal at Daspit Elementary School and local businesses to make the application to DOTD more “eye-opening.”

Calls to the district supervisor of Louisiana and Delta railroad were not returned by this morning’s deadline.