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Audience member Ben Langlinais asked the million-dollar question at Tuesday’s Vermilion and Iberia Parish Railroad Development District Board and Commissioners meeting.
Langlinais, who lives next to the railroad track, stood up in the crowd and asked, “My question is, where is this [opinions against Rails to Trails] headed? Is it going to stay in this room?”
Langlinais wanted to know if the owners of the railroad company, government officials, or the group attempting to gather information for a future walking/biking trail would be informed about the occurrences and discussions at Tuesday’s meeting.
No one from the railroad board or in the crowd had a good answer for Langlinais. 
Of the more than 60 people in attendance at the meeting held in the LSU AgCenter Building in Abbeville, 56 are against removing the rails from Abbeville to Delcambre and replacing them with a bike/walking lane. The total distance from Abbeville to Delcambre is nine miles. 
Larry Campisi, the former mayor of Abbeville in the 1980s, baffled the crowd by estimating the cost of installing rails to trails. Campisi said the price would be around $4 million per mile or close to $30 million for nine miles.
In order for Rails to Trails to happen, a railroad track would have to be declared abandoned because there is on activity on the track.
In June, Larry Campisi emailed Ms. Dawn Davis Carpenter, the regional real estate manager for Genesee and Wyoming Railroad Service, which owns the Louisiana and Delta Railroad Line.  He wanted to know if the railroad in Vermilion Parish was abandoned or active.
Erath Mayor Taylor Mencacci also emailed her in March 2023, asking the same question.
On June 13, 2024, Campisi received an email from Dawn M. Davis-Carpentor. In the email, she wrote, “This is an active line, and it is not abandoned. For this reason, the Louisiana and Delta Railroad has no plans to abandon the segment.”
That was the same answer Mencacci received from Ms. Davis-Carpentor a year earlier.
Campisi said on Tuesday, “The railroad is not abandoned. It is active.”
Mecancci attended the Tuesday meeting and spoke about Ms Davis-Carpentor’s email response in 2023.
“Mayors are always looking for something to better the community,” Mencacci said. “People approached me and wanted to see if it (Rails to Trails) was possible. Could it be done?”
Ms. Davis-Carpentor responded to Mencacci on March 7, 2023, saying, “The existing line is still active and has not been abandoned. We don’t do rails to trails as it poses a significant safety hazard.”
Mencacci told the crowd that when he received Ms. David-Carpentor’s email, the idea of the rails to trails was “Dead Upon Arrival.”
But a different group, made up of parish citizens, has taken over where Mencacci stopped and is in the early stages of trying to get a Rails to Trails built from Abbeville to Delcambre.
Anita Levy, who enjoys walking all over Abbeville, wanted to know why the city needs another place to walk.
“We have five parks in Abbeville,” said Levy. “We just built Lafitte Drive-In Park with a walking trail. Why are they trying to build another walking trail?”
Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White was not at the meeting but did send a two-page letter that Mencacci read to the crowd.
In her letter, she explained that creating a walking trail takes years of planning and design, and it is still being determined where the finances would come from. 
Here is part of Mayor White’s letter:
“I have always saw potential in building trails as a means to grow tourism and improve community health. I am in full support of vetting the rails to trails project for feasibility and merit and I also believe this could be a transformative project for our local economy. I have seen the positive impact trails are having in communities both large and small around Louisiana and the United States.
 “As all of you already know, the railroad has not been abandoned, but I, like many, know that there will likely never be another train on the tracks for a variety of reasons, mostly lack of industry/demand and lack of maintenance by the railroad company.
“I have been involved in many discussions about  the potential rails to trails project,” she said. “It is currently an idea being vetted and explored to see if it is possible and/or feasible. There have been no meetings with the owners of the railroad, only information gathering to understand what it would take and what the process entails to know how it could happen and what funding sources might be available if it becomes a project. There have also been discussions with other public officials to gather knowledge, feedback, and hopefully one day support ahead of speaking to the railroad.”
Mayor White said in the letter that she is requesting a meeting with the railroad  to address  “The lack of maintenance of their asset in Abbeville, which is currently a hazard, and discuss future plans they may have for the segment.”
To read the entire letter, go to the Abbeville Meridional’s website, Vermiliontoday.com

(Here is a copy of a letter from Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White that was read at Tuesday's Vermilion and Iberia Parish Railroad Development District Board and Commissioners meeting held in Abbeville. She was not able to attend the meeting. White gave her thoughts on Rails to Trails and how it could be a positive for Abbeville).

Good Afternoon Homer,

Since I am at a conference and unable to attend the meeting today, I would like a copy of this email presented to each member of the commission for the record and also would like to get a copy to the police jury. I apologize for the formatting. I am writing this on my cell.
I hope this email finds you well. I would have like to attend this public meeting of the Railroad Commission, but I am out of town at conference building connections to resources for our community. I did request the meeting be postponed to allow me to attend and address the commission in person, and to present the facts as I know them, however this request was declined.

It is my hope that proponents in support of exploring this idea attend today to show there is as much, if not more, support than there is opposition. However I realize that is not likely due to the scheduling.

> I have offered a meeting to discuss this with Mr Campisi, but so far that offer has been declined. I am a new mayor with new vision and a different approach to leadership, I believe anyone who has worked with me will speak to my ability, drive and willingness to sacrifice for my team and community. Many individuals and businesses see the potential in rails to trails and would like to see it happen. I am willing to share my thoughts and my larger vision for the community with anyone who is open to listen, and I don’t hide my enthusiasm for these projects.
Rather than sitting down and having a conversation to gather facts, Mr. Campisi and others have opted to flood city hall and other entities with public records requests. Since Mr Campisi was once the mayor of Abbeville and knows the work to meet such requests, I can only assume he took this approach to bury the city with paperwork, wasting valuable time and public resources. This type of regressive mindset is what continues to hold back our community and our parish. It is certainly not for the betterment of our community.

> I have always saw potential in building trails as a means to grow tourism and improve community health. I am in full support of vetting the rails to trails project for feasibility and merit and I also believe this could be a transformative project for our local economy. I have seen the positive impact trails are having in communities both large and small around Louisiana and the United States.
> As all of you already know, the railroad has not been abandoned, but I, like many, know that there will likely never be another train on the tracks for a variety of reasons, mostly lack of industry/demand and lack of maintenance by the railroad company.
I have been involved in many discussions about the potential rails to trails project. It is currently an idea being vetted and explored to see if it is possible and/or feasible. There have been no meetings with the owners of the railroad, only information gathering to understand what it would take and what the process entails to know how it could happen and what funding sources might be available if it becomes a project. There have also been discussions with other public officials to gather knowledge, feedback, and hopefully one day support ahead of speaking to the railroad.
>
There are members of our community who have visited successful trails in other areas. They are advocating and are doing most of the work on information gathering as proponents of the project and I applaud them and support them for the work they are doing.

I will request a meeting with the railroad to address the lack of maintenance of their asset in Abbeville, which is currently a hazard, and discuss future plans they may have for the segment. After that meeting, we will have a better picture of what is possible and what is not possible and be better suited to have public meetings to answer questions and concerns. Which will need to be addressed. I hope to also have that same meeting with all of you in the near future. I have been attending to my father in the final days of his life. That and running the city has been my priority since May. I hope you can appreciate my prioritization.

This potential project, as with anything significant, will take years of planning, designing, financial and operational planning to accomplish, but I think it is something worth looking in to. I will continue to work on it with community volunteers to vet the project as my schedule allows. I think it is my responsibility as a leader to do so.

Any concerns over trails should and would be addressed individually and in public meetings if it is determined that it is a viable project. That answer will only be known once there is a conversation with the actual railroad which in itself is a difficult task.
>
Over years projects like these spur redevelopment which decreases blight and reduces crime. For this to happen, it is important that it projects are well planned, built and promoted correctly and properly maintained.

Active, walkable areas in communities improve safety and yield higher property value. Creating a better quality of life in our community through enhanced recreational opportunities will make Abbeville and our surrounding communities a communities of choice for people looking to enjoy retirement outside of the bigger cities as they look for a slower pace of life and also for those looking to escape repeated damage from storms along the coast. This can further address blight and crime by filling homes with people more vested in our community. In addition, projects like trails can also be designed in ways that help to mitigate flood risks and build resilience which over time helps bring down the cost of insurance.

I hope that each of you take time to read this message and find time to discuss this further as schedules allow. Thank you for serving our community.
>
> Mayor Roslyn White
> City of Abbeville
> Office: 337-898-4206

DeAdrienne Allen, 801 Wildcat Drive, Abbeville, Charges: No Seat Belt. Driving Under Suspension, Resisting an officer;
Karl Babin Jr., 1504 Coulee Kinney, Abbeville; Two counts assault (aggravated with a firearm);
Alton Brailey III, 813 S. East Street, Abbeville, 2 counts of domestic abuse battery (aggravated strangulation);
Bradley P. Broussard, 205 Noble Street, Lafayette, Charges: Driving while intoxicated (2nd offense), Hit and run and possession of Marijuana;
Jha’ Juan Campbell, 224 Southland, Abbeville: Charges: Domestic Abuse Battery, false imprisonment; Assault;
Kevin Collins, 1610 Martin Luther King Drive, Abbeville, Charges: Aggravated Flight from an officer, theft;
Jonathan Comeaux, 1000 South Miles, Abbeville: Charges: Home Invasion, domestic abuse battery and false imprisonment;
Skyler Cureington, 303 South Louisiana, Abbeville; Arrest Warrant;
Lace Derouen, 12115 North Road, Erath; Charges: Theft, Resisting arrest;
Kim Do, 2302 Baxter, Abbeville, Charges: Theft (Shoplifting);
Teddy James Duhon, 217 North Bailey, Abbeville, Theft (Shoplifting);
Jenna Greene, 1021 W. Port St., Abbeville, Charges: 2 counts simple battery, criminal damage to property:
Macgyver Greene, 2790 Rodeo ROad, Apt. 835; Abbeville, Charges: Theft (Shoplifting);
Chad Fabian Guidry, 3729 Gene Road, Erath, Charges: Driving White Intoxicated (second offense); Careless operation; open container;
Brent Hayes, 617 North State, Abbeville, Charges: Domestic Abuse Battery;
Mark Gerald Hebert, 1707 Cherokee Street, Abbeville; Charges: Domestic Abuse Battery Strangulation, resisting arrest;
Keandre Helaire, 303 Pamela Street, Carencro; Charges Aggravated Flight from An Officer;
Noah Henschel, 903 Chevis, Abbeville; Charges: Theft (Shop lifting);
Terah Andrea Hewitt, 600 Hawthorne, Abbeville; Charges: Domestic Abuse Battery (Simple Minor Injury Burning;
Carlton Eugene Hills, 1401 Isreal Parker, Abbeville; Charges: Second Degree Cruelty to Juveniles, Second Degree Murder and Obstruction of Justice by Tampering with Evidence;
Jadeya Gracie Hills, 1111 East Oak Street, Abbeville; Charges: Theft
Taylor Marie Johnson 667 Leonora Road, Church Point; Charges: Theft of Motor Vehicle;
Carlos Landor, 110 Tabor, Abbeville, Charges: Indecent Behavior with Juvenile (s);
Artis Leon Latson Jr., 120 Windy South, Abbeville, Charges: Armed Robbery
Sherri N. LeBlanc, 701 Clover, Abbeville, Possession of Synthetic Marijuana;
Laticia Wanette Lewis, 1401 Isreal Parker Drive, Abbeville: Charges Second Degree Homicide, Principal to Second Degree Cruelty to a Juvenile;
Ariel McLeod, 1702 Oscar Street, Abbeville: Charges: Theft, Damage to Property with intent to defraud;
Tommy James Menard, 809 Soloman, Abbeville; Charges. Illegal Carrying of Weapons, No Tail Light;
Zachary Paul Mendoza, 418 Elias Street, Abbeville, Charges: Theft (shoplifting), Simple battery.
Michael Chadrick Montgomery, 804 North East Avenue, Abbeville; Charges: Second Degree Rape, Obscenity and Sexual Battery;
Kylin Demond Nolan, 906 E. Lafayette, Abbeville; Charges: Two counts of simple battery, Resisting an Officer;
Sharman Christopher Pedraza, Abbeville, Charges: Entry or remaining in places or on land;
Elridge Anthony Petry, 1311 South St. Charles, Abbeville, Charges: Failure to Report Commission of felonies, Warrant Arrest: Accessory After the Fact, Principal to Obstruction;
Michael Rice, 509 Hawthorne St., Abbeville, Charges: Obstruction of Judy by tampering with evidence, possession of stolen firearm, aggravated criminal damage to property, illegal use of weapons of dangerous instrumentalities;
Travis Rice, 509 Hawthorne, Abbeville; Charges: Illegal Carrying of Weapons, Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute;
Andrew Richard, 9136 Tracy, Baton Rouge, Charges: Hit and run, Failure to Maintain Control and driving under suspension;
Christasia Lanae Romero, 845 Serinity Road, Abbeville, Charge: Theft
Felix Andre Small, 1206 Green, Abbeville, Charges: Possession of Stolen Firearm, Transaction involving proceeds with drug offenses, Possessio of Schedule III Drug with intendant to distribute; possession of CD with Juvenile Present; No child restraint;
Allen Small Jr., 901 Graceland, Abbeville: Charges: Attempted first degree murder, aggravated criminal damage to property;
Justin P. Stelly, 1911 Cherokee, Abbeville: Charges: Driving While Intoxicated, first offense; Domestic abuse batter (Simple Minor Injury Burning);
Lawrence Syon, 7833 Highway 339, Abbeville; Charges: Driving Wrong Way on Divided Highway;
Michael Thibodeaux, 607 Miles Street, Abbeville: Charges: Theft, Criminal Damage to Property;
Jayla Marie Trice, 315 Berthier, Abbeville, Charges: Theft;
Jesse James Waller, 1704 Michael Street, Abbeville; Charges: Domestic Abuse Battery; Assault;
Alvin James Wiltz, 617 Bailey, Abbeville, Charges: Resisting and Officer with Force or Violence, Theft: