Still recovering from the long-term impacts of Hurricane Katrina, the city is looking to build out and modernize its transit system to improve mobility for its many transit-dependent residents.
In an article for Governing, Jared Brey outlines plans to improve transit on land and water in New Orleans on the heels of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority hiring a new CEO earlier this year.
In addition to opening a new ferry building this summer—“a major accessibility upgrade for the ferry system”—RTA plans to overhaul its bus network, which took a major hit after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “According to The Data Center, just 4 percent of New Orleanians take public transit to work as of 2021, compared to 14 percent in 2000.”
To improve bus service, “RTA has begun collecting funding for a new downtown transit hub, and it has secured grants this year to buy new electric buses and to make upgrades to the ferry terminal in Algiers Point. It’s also in the early stages of planning its first-ever bus rapid transit (BRT) line — a service that could potentially slash commuting times for residents coming from outlying neighborhoods to the downtown job centers.”
According to the agency, which says roughly 22,000 people live within a quarter-mile of the line’s proposed stops, “The proposed 15-mile route would have fewer stops than traditional bus service, but, if it works correctly, more frequent and faster service with priority on the roadways.”
FULL STORY: Keeping Transit on Pace With a Changing New Orleans
Postponed Milwaukee BRT Project at Least a Decade Away
The county’s transit system won’t pursue a second rapid bus line due to financial constraints.
Van Ness BRT Speeds Travel by 36%, Earns Silver Designation
The San Francisco rapid bus line is making transit on the corridor more reliable and reducing traffic crashes and congestion.
Las Vegas BRT Line Breaks Ground
The new bus project will include pedestrian and bike improvements along a 12-mile stretch of the Maryland Parkway.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research