New Orleans Regional Transit Authority

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>Template:Dead link 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 RTA the largest public transit agency in the state of Louisiana.

History

Template:More citations needed NORTA was established in 1979.

Hurricane Katrina

NORTA buses were used to transport people to the Superdome before Hurricane Katrina hit. 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

Transit service was restored to 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By early 2009, the red Canal streetcars were repaired and had taken over service on the Canal and Riverfront Lines.

St. Charles Streetcar Tracks after Hurricane Katrina

In 2015, transit service was still at 45% of pre-Katrina levels, with buses being at 35% of original service levels while streetcars were fully restored.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Service was changed again on October 2, 2016, with the extension of the Loyola/UPT streetcar line to Elysian Fields Avenue to via Rampart Street and adjustment of other streetcar lines and bus routes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New Links bus routes

On September 25, 2022, NORTA launched a bus network redesign.<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.Template:Citation needed 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 aimed to improve access to jobs and landmarks, reduce wait times, extend service hours, and speed up transfers/connections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No changes were made to the streetcars or ferries.

Services

Buses

NORTA is the primary bus operator in New Orleans, running 28 routes as of 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Template:American transit ridership, the NORTA bus system had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership.Template:American transit ridership

Route list

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	Late evening 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	Late evening 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 late evening 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
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
103 General Meyer Local	Downtown Tulane + Loyola	New Aurora General Meyer + Carver	Template:Convert	Pontchartrain Expressway, L.B. Landry Avenue, General Meyer Avenue
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

Streetcar

Streetcar on Canal Street, April 2007

NORTA's streetcar system consists of five lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Template:American transit ridership, the streetcar system had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership.Template:American transit ridership

No.	Route	Terminal 1	Terminal 2	Length	Notes
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	Canal St. Ferry Terminal	Cemeteries Transit Terminal	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	Riverfront	French Market	John Churchill Chase	2 miles (3.2 km)	Reopened June 1, 2025

Fares

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are free transfer cards, good for next 120 minutes of unlimited use (round-trips/stopovers prohibited).

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.

Governance

The RTA Board of Commissioners is in charge of making major decisions for the authority. The board consists of appointees by the Mayor of New Orleans and the President of Jefferson Parish.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed

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>Template:Dead link

See also

• Canal Street Ferry
• 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.