New Orleans Regional Transit Authority

File:New Orleans Streetcar Map.svg

Streetcar network map

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA or NORTA) is a public transportation agency based in New Orleans. The agency was established by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1979, and has operated bus and historic streetcar service throughout the city since 1983, when it took over the city's mass transit system after nearly six decades' control by New Orleans Public Service, Inc. (now Entergy New Orleans).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Template:American transit ridership, the system had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership, or about Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridership, making the Regional Transit Authority the largest public transit agency in the state of Louisiana.

Basic rates for all modes, except ferries, are $1.25 per boarding (or $0.40 for 65 and up, disabled and Medicare, $0.50 for 5–17). 24-hour Jazzy Passes are $3, or $1 for youth and $0.80 for seniors, good for all modes including ferries. There are free transfer cards, good for next 120 minutes of unlimited use (round-trips/stopovers prohibited). Under 5 with a limit of three per paid rider can board for free. Transfers to ferries from busses/streetcars require paying difference in rates.

Hurricane Katrina

City buses were used before Hurricane Katrina hit to transport people to a refuge of last resort, of what's now the Caesars Superdome. Much of the city flooded due to the storm. The NORTA Administration building on Plaza Drive appears to have been in Template:Convert of water. Almost eighty-five percent of the fleet was rendered useless and inoperative; 146 city buses were visible outdoors in the flood at the 2817 Canal St. facility, while only 22 were at 3900 Desire Pky. The 8201 Willow St. facility was one block within the flood but was built above street level. The buses at the flooded facilities were mostly written off.

All but one of the streetcars built in the 1990s and 2000s were severely damaged in the flooding resulting from the hurricane. The historic Perley Thomas-built streetcars of the St. Charles line were undamaged in the disaster. The damaged streetcars, which had been built by hand on the property by local workers, were repaired in the same facility with components from Brookville Equipment Co.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Post-disaster recovery

Template:As of, service had been restored to certain areas as they became habitable again. However, there was no 24-hour service on any bus or streetcar line, except for the St. Charles streetcar line. Streetcars were returned to the full length of Canal St. and the Riverfront, initially using the historic St. Charles Line streetcars, which had not been damaged, as had the red Canal cars. In 2008, the St. Charles streetcar resumed running the entire length of its route. By early 2009, the red Canal streetcars were repaired and had taken over service on the Canal and Riverfront Lines.

The buses that have been restored to operation have returned to several major thoroughfares, including Elysian Fields Avenue, Esplanade Avenue, Claiborne Avenue, St. Claude Avenue, Judge Perez Drive, General Meyer Avenue, Lapalco Boulevard, Robert E. Lee Boulevard, and the Chef Menteur Highway. And just a few express routes, Morrison Express, Lake Forest Express, Read-Crowder Express and Airport Express, serving both Eastern New Orleans, and New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, La. have been reinstated so far.

Service enhancements as of October 2, 2016:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Operate the new N. Rampart/St. Claude Avenue streetcar from Elysian Fields to UPT via Rampart St. and Loyola Ave. Loyola/UPT line will no longer operate on Canal St. to the river, nor on Riverfront to the French Quarter stop.

Restore service to Canal Street on the 15-Freret and 28-MLK buses.

Increase service on the Canal and Riverfront streetcar lines.

Continue lines 57-Franklin and 88-St. Claude to Canal St. Operate 57-Franklin via Claiborne Ave. to increase service along N. Claiborne Ave. between Elysian Fields and St. Bernard Ave.

File:FEMA - 48805 - RTA Street Cars (Before).jpg

St. Charles Streetcar Tracks after Hurricane Katrina

Decrease travel times for riders from farther-out neighborhoods by operating Lines 88-St. Claude and 91-Jackson/Esplanade with fewer stops along Rampart to Canal.

Improve reliability of lines 5-Marigny/Bywater and 55-Elysian Fields with new schedules.

Provide earlier daily trips and later weekend trips on line 80-Desire/Louisa.

New Links Bus Routes

In September 2022, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority announced that they would be almost entirely changing the lines, names, and wait times for the authority starting on September 25, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The changes were made after a survey was conducted containing 3,000 people saying that the old lines had been outdated, and were not convenient for everyday use. For 4 days after the new routes started, RTA offered free boarding on all buses, streetcars, and the Algiers Point Ferry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The changes were part of the New Links Network, a project designed to upgrade the transit authority to service the people of New Orleans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Upgrades from the previous lines include more access to jobs and landmarks, reduced wait times, longer service times, and faster transfers/connections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 18, 2022, the authority released Le Pass, a new trip planner and ticket app. It includes tickets and tracking for both RTA and Jefferson Transit buses. On August 29, 2022, RTA shut down ticket buying on the old RTA GoMobile app.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Le Pass updated from the old routes on September 25, 2022.

No changes were made to the streetcars or ferries.

Bus and streetcar routes

File:CanalCemsKeepItCleanTram.jpg

Streetcar on Canal Street, April 2007

Current bus routes

In Template:American transit ridership, the NORTA bus system had a ridership of Template:American transit ridershipTemplate:American transit ridership, or about Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridership.Template:American transit ridership

Route Name	Terminal 1	Terminal 2	Length	via	notes
3 Tulane - Elmwood	Downtown Saratoga + Tulane	Elmwood Jefferson Hwy + Spur	Template:Convert	Tulane Avenue, South Carrollton Avenue, Jefferson Highway	24-hour service (No evening or overnight service west of Jefferson + Causeway)
8 St Claude - Arabi	Downtown Main Library	Arabi St Claude at Parish Line	Template:Convert	Rampart Street (Saint Claude Avenue)	24-hour service
9 Broad - Napoleon	Irish Channel Napoleon + Tchoupitoulas	New Orleans East New Orleans East Hub	Template:Convert	Napoleon Avenue, Broad Street, Chef Menteur Highway	24-hour service
11 Magazine	Downtown Tulane + Loyola	West Riverside Children's Hospital New Orleans	Template:Convert	Camp Street, Magazine Street
27 Louisiana	St. Thomas Dev Rousseau + St Andrew	Navarre Orleans + Navarre at Delgado Community College	Template:Convert	Tchoupitoulas Street, Louisiana Avenue, Toledano Street (Washington Avenue)
31 Leonidas - Gentilly	West Riverside Children's Hospital New Orleans	Gentilly Woods Gentilly Woods Hub	Template:Convert	Leonidas Street, Carrollton Avenue, Gentilly Boulevard
32 Leonidas - Treme		Downtown Main Library	Template:Convert	Leonidas Street, Carrollton Avenue, Orleans Avenue
45 Lakeview	Navarre Cemeteries Transit Hub		Template:Convert	Canal Boulevard, Pontchartrain Boulevard	Operates in a loop
51 St. Bernard - Claiborne	St. Bernard St. Bernard + Senate	Fontainebleau Claiborne + Carollton	Template:Convert	Saint Bernard Avenue, Claiborne Avenue	Overnight service on Claiborne Avenue provided by 53-O Paris - Claiborne Owl
52 Paris - Broadmoor	Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks University of New Orleans	Dixon Palmetto + S. Carrollton at Xavier University	Template:Convert	Paris Avenue, Washington Avenue	Overnight service on Paris Avenue provided by 53-O Paris-Claiborne Owl
53-O Paris-Claiborne Owl	Fontainebleau Claiborne + Carrollton	Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks University of New Orleans	Template:Convert	Claiborne Avenue, Paris Avenue	Runs overnight service on portions of Routes 51 and 52
55 Elysian Fields	Downtown Main Library	Gentilly Woods Gentilly Woods Hub	Template:Convert	Elysian Fields Avenue, Press Drive (SB), Congress Drive (NB)	24-hour service (No overnight service east of University of New Orleans)
57 Franklin - Freret	Pontchartrain Park Press + Emmett Bashful at SUNO	Audubon Audubon Zoo	Template:Convert	Franklin Avenue, N Claiborne Avenue, Freret Street, Broadway
61 Lake Forest - Village De L'Est	Downtown Main Library	Village De L'Est Chef Menteur + Old Gentilly at Gulfway Terrace Apartments	Template:Convert	I-10, Dwyer Road, Lake Forest Boulevard, Chef Menteur Highway	24-hour service
62 Morrison - Bullard		New Orleans East New Orleans East Hub	Template:Convert	I-10, Morrison Road, Bullard Road	Overnight service provided by 62-O Morrison Owl
62-O Morrison Owl			Template:Convert	I-10, Morrison Road, Bullard Road	Runs overnight service on portions of Routes 62 and 68
66 Hayne Loop	New Orleans East New Orleans East Hub		Template:Convert	Leon C. Simon Drive, Hayne Boulevard	Operates in a loop
67 Michoud Loop			Template:Convert	Lake Forest Boulevard, Bullard Road, Old Gentilly Road, Michoud Boulevard
68 Little Woods Loop			Template:Convert	Hayne Boulevard, I-10 Service Road
80 Desire - Louisa	Gentilly Woods Gentilly Woods Hub	Marigny Elysian Fields + Decatur	Template:Convert	Louisa Street, Desire Street
84 Galvez - Lower 9th	Downtown Main Library	Arabi St Claude at Parish Line	Template:Convert	N Galvez Street, N Miro Street	24-hour service
86 St. Maurice - Chalmette	Arabi St Claude at Jackson Barracks	Chalmette Nunez Community College	Template:Convert	Tupelo Street, Judge Perez Drive, Paris Road, Fats Domino Avenue	Operates in a loop
91 Jackson - Esplanade	St. Thomas Dev Rousseau + St. Andrew	Navarre Cemeteries Transit Hub	Template:Convert	Jackson Avenue, Esplanade Avenue	24-hour service
103 General Meyer Local	Downtown Tulane + Loyola	New Aurora General Meyer + Carver	Template:Convert	Pontchartrain Expressway, L.B. Landry Avenue, General Meyer Avenue	24-hour service
105 Algiers Local	Gretna Wilty Terminal	Tall Timbers-Bretchel Tullis + Woodland	Template:Convert	Holiday Drive, Tullis Drive
114A Garden Oaks - Sullen	Downtown Tulane + Loyola	New Aurora General Meyer + Carver	Template:Convert	Pontchartrain Expressway, General DeGaulle Drive, Sullen Drive	24-hour service
114B Garden Oaks - Woodland		Tall Timbers-Bretchel Tullis + Woodland	Template:Convert	Pontchartrain Expressway, MacArthur Boulevard, Woodland Drive
202 Airport Express	Downtown Loyola + Tulane	Louis Armstrong International Airport	Template:Convert	I-10

List of streetcar routes

Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Template:American transit ridership, the streetcar system had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership, or about Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridershipTemplate:American transit ridership.

No.	Route	Terminal 1	Terminal 2	Length	Notes
2	Riverfront	French Market	John Churchill Chase	2 miles (3.2 km)	Currently combined with Loyola section of 49 due to overhead line damage past Canal Street.
12	St. Charles	Canal and Carondelet Streets	Carrolton and South Claiborne Avenue	6 miles (9.7 km)	24-hour service
46	Rampart-Loyola	St. Claude and Elysian Fields	New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal	2.4 miles (3.9 km)	Reopened May 19, 2024
47	Canal–Cemeteries	Harrah's Casino	Cemeteries Transit Hub	3.6 miles (5.8 km)	24-hour service
48	Canal–City Park/Museum		City Park and Museum of Art	3.6 miles (5.8 km)	24-hour service
49	Loyola–Riverfront	French Market	New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal	2.5 miles (4.0 km)	Utilizes trackage from Rampart-Loyola, Canal, and Riverfront line.

Former routes

• 1 Easy Rider Downtown Shuttle
• 3 Vieux Carré
• 5 Marigny-Bywater
• 10 Tchoupitoulas
• 13 St. Charles Shuttle
• 14 Jackson
• 15 Freret
• 16 S Claiborne
• 19 Nashville Express
• 20 Nashville
• 22 Broadway
• 24 Napoleon
• 28 M L King
• 30 Airline
• 34 Carrollton Express
• 39 Tulane
• 40 West End Express
• 41 West End
• 42 Canal – Cemeteries
• 43 Canal Boulevard – Lake Vista
• 44 Canal Boulevard Express – Lake Vista
• 45 Canal – City Park
• 46 Orleans (originally 46 City Park)
• 48 Esplanade
• 49 Lakeview
• 50 St. Bernard – Senate
• 51 St. Bernard – Lake Terrace
• 52 St. Bernard – L. C. Simon
• 53 Gentilly
• 54 Mirabeau (originally 54 Cartier)
• 56 Elysian Fields Express
• 58 Franklin Express
• 59 Congress
• 60 Hayne
• 63 New Orleans East Owl
• 64 Lake Forest Express
• 65 Six Flags Express (originally 65 Plaza Park-and-Ride)
• 65 Read-Crowder Express
• 66 Chef Menteur Highway Express
• 67 Crowder
• 69 New Orleans East Owl Loop
• 70 Read – Hayne
• 71 Read – Casino
• 72 Paris Road Express
• 73 Oak Island Loop
• 80 Louisa
• 81 Almonaster
• 82 Desire
• 83 Lower Ninth Ward
• 85 Barracks
• 88 St. Claude – Barracks
• 89 St. Claude – Refinery
• 90 Carrollton
• 94 Broad
• 96 Broad Rapid
• 97 Broad – Oak Island
• 98 Broad – Village de L'est
• 99 Broad – NASA
• 100 Algiers Owl
• 101 Algiers Point
• 102 General Meyer
• 103 General Meyer/Pace
• 104 Algiers Park-and-Ride
• 105 Aurora
• 106 Aurora Express
• 106 Aurora Local
• 107 General DeGaulle
• 108 Algiers Local
• 114 General DeGaulle-Sullen
• 115 General DeGaulle-Tullis
• 202 Kenner Park-and-Ride
• 408 Algiers Local-L.B. Landry

Governance

The body in charge of making major decisions for the RTA is the Board of Commissioners. The board consists of appointees by the Mayor of New Orleans and of some appointees by the President of Jefferson Parish. The RTA Board has the overall authority for transit in New Orleans including setting fares, overseeing service and operations, developing operating budgets, approving each year's annual transportation development plan, and deciding upon capital purchases and expansions.

Under contract to the RTA Board of Commissioners, Transdev formerly managed all day-to-day aspects of the transit agency on behalf of the RTA Board. Transdev handled operations and service, safety issues, vehicle maintenance, customer care, route design and scheduling, human resources, administration, ridership growth, capital planning, grant administration, communications, purchasing, and other agency functions. Transdev was under contract to and reported to the RTA Board of Commissioners. The company operates public transportation for some 5,000 transit authorities around the world. Transdev (then Veolia Transport) was hired in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:As of, Transdev no longer manages the RTA. All bus, streetcar, and paratransit operators, and also maintenance personnel, are now employees of RTA. Ferry services continue to be operated for RTA by LabMar Ferry Services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Streetcars in New Orleans
• List of light-rail transit systems

External links

• Template:Official website
• Ride New Orleans, a not-for-profit transportation policy and research organization.