New Orleans Regional Transit Authority

{{Short description|Public transit operator in New Orleans, Louisiana}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox Bus transit | name = New Orleans Regional Transit Authority | logo = RTA New Orleans.png | logo_size = | image = New Orleans RTA Building.jpg | image_caption = RTA headquarters on Canal Street | company_slogan = | parent = | founded = 1979 | headquarters = New Orleans | locale = | service_area = City of New Orleans Orleans Parish, Louisiana | service_type = Public transit Heritage streetcar Ferry | alliance = | routes = 28 (bus) 5 (streetcar) 2 (ferry) | destinations = | stops = | hubs = | stations = | lounge = | fleet = | annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|LA New Orleans total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}) | fuel_type = Diesel (bus/ferry) Electric (streetcar) | operator = | ceo = Lona Edwards Hankins | website = {{URL|norta.com}} }}

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>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.norta.com/get-to-know-us/history |access-date=December 8, 2025 |website=www.norta.com}}</ref> In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|LA New Orleans total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|LA New Orleans total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}, making RTA the largest public transit agency in the state of Louisiana.

==History== {{Expand section|date=May 2026}} 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 {{convert|10|ft|m}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

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>{{cite web |date=February 1, 2013 |title=The streetcar makes a comeback in New Orleans - CBS News Video |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50140192n |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201230610/http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50140192n |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |website=www.cbsnews.com}}</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>{{cite web |last=Faciane |first=Valerie |date=June 22, 2008 |title=Back on line: Streetcars return to South Carrollton |url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/back_on_line_streetcar_returns.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 9, 2014 |work=NOLA.com |publisher=NOLA Media Group}}</ref> By early 2009, the red Canal streetcars were repaired and had taken over service on the Canal and Riverfront Lines.[[File:FEMA - 48805 - RTA Street Cars (Before).jpg|thumb|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>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Ben |date=August 19, 2015 |title=New Orleans' transit system still hasn't recovered, 10 years after Katrina |url=https://grist.org/cities/new-orleans-transit-system-still-hasnt-recovered-10-years-after-katrina/ |access-date=November 1, 2025 |website=Grist |language=en-us}}</ref>

Service was changed again on October 2, 2016, with the extension of the Loyola/UPT streetcar line to Elysian Fields Avenue via Rampart Street and adjustment of other streetcar lines and bus routes.<ref>{{cite web|title=October 2, Service Changes for Bus And Street Car Lines|url=http://www.norta.com/Maps-Schedules/Fall-Service-Changes-for-Bus-And-Street-Car-Lines.aspx|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-date=September 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923235918/http://www.norta.com/Maps-Schedules/Fall-Service-Changes-for-Bus-And-Street-Car-Lines.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In May 2020, agency operations shifted from private operator Transdev, back to in-house staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jessica |date=2020-05-28 |title=After 11 years, New Orleans RTA again takes control of its own fate |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/after-11-years-new-orleans-rta-again-takes-control-of-its-own-fate/article_4829860c-a051-11ea-b4e3-bbc89b31fe44.html |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== New Links bus routes === On September 25, 2022, NORTA launched a bus network redesign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - New Bus Routes |url=https://www.norta.com/current-projects/new-bus-routes |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.norta.com |archive-date=2023-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928013052/https://www.norta.com/current-projects/new-bus-routes |url-status=dead }}</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.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} For 4 days after the new routes started, RTA offered free boarding on all buses, streetcars, and the Algiers Point Ferry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - New Orleans RTA to offer four days of free rides for new bus routes implementation |url=https://www.norta.com/news-list/new-orleans-rta-to-offer-four-days-of-free-rides-for-new-bus-routes-implementation |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.norta.com}}</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>{{Cite web |last1=Hart |first1=Katherine |date=December 2, 2020 |title=New Links reimagines the region's public transit. Here's what's in the works for Uptown. |url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2020/12/new-links-reimagines-the-regions-public-transit-heres-whats-in-the-works-for-uptown/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011121735/https://uptownmessenger.com/2020/12/new-links-reimagines-the-regions-public-transit-heres-whats-in-the-works-for-uptown/ |archive-date=October 11, 2022 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Uptown Messenger |language=en-US}}</ref> Upgrades aimed to improve access to jobs and landmarks, reduce wait times, extend service hours, and speed up transfers/connections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - System Overview |url=https://www.norta.com/current-projects/new-bus-routes/september25-67ed382ec89bfeafa0c4fb5dafc803c7-8abd4b87e0a94b1810ad7af9f574710c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001050438/https://www.norta.com/current-projects/new-bus-routes/september25-67ed382ec89bfeafa0c4fb5dafc803c7-8abd4b87e0a94b1810ad7af9f574710c |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=www.norta.com}}</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>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - System Overview |url=https://www.norta.com/ride-with-us/system-overview |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=www.norta.com}}</ref> In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the NORTA bus system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|LA New Orleans MB annual}}.{{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}

{{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" !# !Name !Terminal 1 !Terminal 2 !Length !via !Notes |- |3 |Tulane - Elmwood |'''Downtown''' Saratoga & Tulane |'''Elmwood''' Jefferson Hwy & Spur |{{cvt|10.2|mi}} |Tulane Ave, S Carrollton Ave, Jefferson Hwy |24-hour service (Except west of Jefferson & Causeway) |- ||8 |St Claude - Arabi |'''Downtown''' Main Library |'''Arabi''' St Claude at Parish Line |{{cvt|5.4|mi}} |Rampart St (Saint Claude Ave) |24-hour service |- |9 |Broad - Napoleon |'''Irish Channel''' Napoleon & Tchoupitoulas |'''New Orleans East''' New Orleans East Hub |{{cvt|14|mi}} |Napoleon Ave, Broad St, Chef Menteur Hwy |24-hour service |- |11 |Magazine |'''Downtown''' Tulane & Loyola |'''West Riverside''' Children's Hospital New Orleans |{{cvt|5.8|mi}} |Camp St, Magazine St | |- |27 |Louisiana |'''St. Thomas Dev''' Rousseau & St Andrew |'''Navarre''' Orleans & Navarre at Delgado Community College |{{cvt|7.9|mi}} |Tchoupitoulas St, Louisiana Ave, Toledano St (Washington Ave) | |- |31 |Leonidas - Gentilly | rowspan="2" |'''West Riverside''' Children's Hospital New Orleans |'''Gentilly Woods''' Gentilly Woods Hub ||{{cvt|12.4|mi}} |Leonidas St, Carrollton Ave, Gentilly Blvd | |- |32 |Leonidas - Treme |'''Downtown''' Main Library |{{cvt|10.5|mi}} |Leonidas St, Carrollton Ave, Orleans Ave | |- |45 |Lakeview | colspan="2" |'''Navarre''' Cemeteries Transit Hub |{{cvt|7.5|mi}} |Canal Blvd, Pontchartrain Blvd |Operates in a loop |- |51 |St. Bernard - Claiborne |'''St. Bernard''' St. Bernard & Senate |'''Fontainebleau''' Claiborne & Carollton |{{cvt|7.8|mi}} |Saint Bernard Ave, Claiborne Ave |Evening/overnight service on Claiborne Av provided by 53-O |- |52 |Paris - Broadmoor |'''Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks''' University of New Orleans |'''Dixon''' Palmetto & S. Carrollton at Xavier University |{{cvt|10.5|mi}} |Paris Ave, Washington Ave |Evening/overnight service on Paris Av provided by 53-O |- |53-O |Paris-Claiborne Owl |'''Fontainebleau''' Claiborne & Carrollton |'''Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks''' University of New Orleans |{{cvt|10.9|mi}} |Claiborne Ave, Paris Ave |Runs evening/overnight service on portions of Routes 51 and 52 |- |55 |Elysian Fields |'''Downtown''' Main Library |'''Gentilly Woods''' Gentilly Woods Hub |{{cvt|11|mi}} |Elysian Fields Ave, Press Dr (SB), Congress Dr (NB) |24-hour service (Except east of University of New Orleans) |- |57 |Franklin - Freret |'''Pontchartrain Park''' Press & Emmett Bashful at SUNO |'''Audubon''' Audubon Zoo |{{cvt|12.2|mi}} |Franklin Ave, N Claiborne Ave, Freret St, Broadway | |- |61 |Lake Forest - Village De L'Est | rowspan="3" |'''Downtown''' Main Library |'''Village De L'Est''' Chef Menteur & Old Gentilly at Gulfway Terrace Apartments |{{cvt|16.1|mi}} |I-10, Dwyer Rd, Lake Forest Blvd, Chef Menteur Hwy |24-hour service |- |62 |Morrison - Bullard | rowspan="5" |'''New Orleans East''' New Orleans East Hub |{{cvt|13.3|mi}} |I-10, Morrison Rd, Bullard Rd |Overnight service provided by 62-O |- |62-O |Morrison Owl |{{cvt|18.2|mi}} |I-10, Morrison Rd, Bullard Rd |Runs overnight service on portions of Routes 62 and 68 |- |66 |Hayne Loop | rowspan="3" |'''New Orleans East''' New Orleans East Hub |{{cvt|17.1|mi}} |Leon C. Simon Dr, Hayne Blvd |Operates in a loop |- |67 |Michoud Loop |{{cvt|17.4|mi}} |Lake Forest Blvd, Bullard Rd, Old Gentilly Rd, Michoud Blvd |Operates in a loop |- |68 |Little Woods Loop |{{cvt|10.7|mi}} |Hayne Blvd, I-10 Service Rd |{{Unbulleted list|Operates in a loop|Overnight service provided by 62-O}} |- |80 |Desire - Louisa |'''Gentilly Woods''' Gentilly Woods Hub |'''Marigny''' Elysian Fields & Decatur |{{cvt|5.6|mi}} |Louisa St, Desire St | |- |84 |Galvez - Lower 9th |'''Downtown''' Main Library |'''Arabi''' St Claude at Parish Line |{{cvt|8.1|mi}} |N Galvez St, N Miro St | |- |86 |St. Maurice - Chalmette |'''Arabi''' St Claude at Jackson Barracks |'''Chalmette''' Nunez Community College |{{cvt|13.5|mi}} |Tupelo St, Judge Perez Dr, Paris Rd, Fats Domino Ave |Operates in a loop |- |91 |Jackson - Esplanade |'''St. Thomas Dev''' Rousseau & St. Andrew |'''Navarre''' Cemeteries Transit Hub |{{cvt|8|mi}} |Jackson Ave, Esplanade Ave | |- |103 |General Meyer Local |'''Downtown''' Tulane & Loyola |'''New Aurora''' General Meyer & Carver |{{cvt|14.3|mi}} |Pontchartrain Expy, L.B. Landry Ave, General Meyer Ave | |- |105 |Algiers Local |'''Gretna''' Wilty Terminal |'''Tall Timbers-Bretchel''' Tullis & Woodland |{{cvt|7.9|mi}} |Holiday Dr, Tullis Dr | |- |114A |Garden Oaks - Sullen | rowspan="2" |'''Downtown''' Tulane & Loyola |'''New Aurora''' General Meyer & Carver |{{cvt|12.7|mi}} |Pontchartrain Expy, General DeGaulle Dr, Sullen Dr |24-hour service |- |114B |Garden Oaks - Woodland |'''Tall Timbers-Bretchel''' Tullis & Woodland |{{cvt|12.7|mi}} |Pontchartrain Expy, MacArthur Blvd, Woodland Dr | |- |202 |Airport Express |'''Kenner''' Louis Armstrong International Airport |'''Downtown''' Canal St. Ferry Terminal |{{cvt|15.9|mi}} |I-10 | |}

===Streetcar=== {{Main|Streetcars in New Orleans}}New Orleans currently has five operating streetcar lines travelling over {{Convert|15.9|mi}} of tracks.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Schedule Streetcars 12, 46, 47, 48, 49 | url=https://www.norta.com/getmedia/5af0729a-d537-4ea3-8280-48dd7a72c05b/Streetcars_12,-46,-47,-48,-49.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516133736/https://www.norta.com/getmedia/5af0729a-d537-4ea3-8280-48dd7a72c05b/Streetcars_12,-46,-47,-48,-49.pdf | archive-date=2024-05-16}}</ref> In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the streetcar system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|LA New Orleans LR annual}}.{{American transit ridership|annualcitation}} {| class="wikitable" !# !Name !Terminal 1 !Terminal 2 !Length !Notes |- |{{rint|neworleans|stcharles}} |St. Charles |Canal St & Carondelet St |Carrolton Av & S. Claiborne Av |{{cvt|6|mi}} |24-hour service |- |{{rint|neworleans|rampart-st-claude}} |Rampart/Loyola |Elysian Fields Av |New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal |{{cvt|2.4|mi}} | |- |{{rint|neworleans|canal-cemeteries}} |Canal/Cemeteries | rowspan="2" Canal Street Ferry|Canal St. Ferry Terminal |Cemeteries Transit Terminal |{{cvt|3.6|mi}} |24-hour service |- |{{rint|neworleans|canal-city-park-museum}} |Canal/City Park |Museum of Art |{{cvt|3.6|mi}} |24-hour service |- |{{rint|neworleans|loyola-riverfront}} |Riverfront |French Market |Julia Street |{{cvt|2|mi}} | |}

=== Ferries === thumb|Algiers Point–Canal Street Ferry "RTA1" at the Canal Street terminal New Orleans currently has two operating ferry routes, both crossing the Mississippi River. {| class="wikitable" !# !Name !Terminal 1 !Terminal 2 !Length !Notes |- |1 |Algiers Point Ferry |Canal St. Ferry Terminal |Algiers Ferry Terminal |{{cvt|0.43|mi}} |Pedestrian Only |- |4 |Chalmette Ferry |Lower Algiers Ferry |Chalmette Ferry |{{cvt|0.45|mi}} |Vehicles & Pedestrians |}

==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>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - Jazzy Passes |url=https://www.norta.com/ride-with-us/how-to-pay/jazzy-passes |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=www.norta.com}}</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>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - Le Pass |url=https://www.norta.com/ride-with-us/how-to-pay/lepass |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.norta.com}}</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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - Get to Know Us |url=https://www.norta.com/get-to-know-us |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.norta.com}}</ref> Its overall authority for transit in New Orleans includes setting fares, overseeing service and operations, developing operating budgets, approving each year's annual transportation development plan, and deciding upon capital purchases and expansions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - Board of Commissioners |url=https://www.norta.com/get-to-know-us/board-of-commissioners |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.norta.com}}</ref>

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>{{Cite web| last = Donze| first = Frank| title = New management team to run city's Regional Transit Authority| work = NOLA.com| date = 3 October 2008| access-date = January 16, 2017| url = http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/rta_board_oks_new_bosses.html}}</ref>

{{As of|2020|12|20|df=US}}, 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>{{cite web |title=New Orleans RTA |url=https://www.norta.com/About/Press-Releases/RTA-successfully-brings-operations-and-maintenance?documentid=2820 |website=New Orleans RTA |access-date=July 17, 2021}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=October 2025}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} * [http://rideneworleans.org/ Ride New Orleans], a not-for-profit transportation policy and research organization.

Category:Government agencies established in 1979 Category:Bus transportation in Louisiana Category:Passenger rail transportation in Louisiana Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Louisiana Category:Transportation in New Orleans Category:Light rail in Louisiana Category:Bus rapid transit in Louisiana