Unsafe driving conditions on Jefferson Highway at Monticello Avenue was reported by a Very Concerned Resident of Monticello Avenue at the July 2025 OJCA Quarterly Meeting.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development recently released their WINTER 2026 NEWSLETTER, https://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/media/powhgdsd/norg_jefferson_winter_2026_newsletter.pdf, regarding the proposed plan to combine the two at-grade highway-rail crossings on Jefferson Hwy (US 90) between the Ochsner Medical Center and Monticello Avenue into a single crossing and grade separating the combined crossing with a railroad overpass. The current study will take at least another year to complete and is anticipated to be completed in late 2026.  The NO BUILD and BUILD 4 (grade separate build with an over rail overpass and frontage road access) are the two options being studied.  The project goals of the study are:  

At the January 2026 quarterly meeting, neighbors learned that railroad crossings have a blue placard with an emergency phone number and the crossing’s unique identifier called the X-ing ID. OJCA surveyed the blue placards and collected the emergency numbers and X-ing IDs for each railroad crossing within our boundaries. There are two railroads -- Kansas City Southern (KCS) and New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB) -- with a total of 6 crossings within OJCA's boundaries. As lagniappe, the railroad crossing on Oak St. near Monticello Ave. is listed too since it is so close to the Jefferson/Orleans parish line.

On Saturday, January 24, 2026 OJCA held its second annual King Cake Social.  Due to inclement weather, Grounded Coffee Cafe, a local business, opened its doors to our members and guests and made the party possible.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!  

OJCA was represented by the president and the recording secretary. The purpose of the meeting as advertised was to bring together concerned private citizens, stakeholders and elected parish and state officials to review presentations of current and future LaDOTD projects in Region 2, of which includes Jefferson Parish. A booklet titled “Draft Fiscal Yar 2026-2027 Highway Priority Program” was provided to attendees.  To review the booklet, click here.

On November 21st, OJCA was represented by our President - Renee Wright Brayden, our Vice President - Robert Brayden and Recording Secretary - Margaret Riess at the Hazel Rhea Hurst community center.

On Thursday, November 13, 2025 organizations in a Public Private Partnership held a public meeting about a planning study for evaluating possible transportation changes within OJCA boundaries and on Jefferson Highway. See below for a list of the organizations in the Public Private Partnership.

OJCA is monitoring the TIF (Tax Incentive Fund) for the Jefferson Highway Economic Development District which is part of Jefferson Parish's annual budget. OJCA is not an expert on the parish budget; however, we care about a particular fund -- the Jefferson Highway Economic Development District -- that is specific to our area.

This blog post includes updates to planned activities that will start at the children's hospital site at Jefferson Highway and Deckbar Avenue next week, October 13, 2025 as well as an update on the Levee Run apartments at Deckbar Avenue and River Road.

The Old Jefferson Community Association was created to:

The Old Jefferson Community Association (OJCA) formed one year ago as a grass roots response and in rigorous opposition to the rezoning of R1A residential properties on Deckbar and Betz Avenues in Jefferson, Louisiana.