Mass_Transit_March_2021 - 27

New Orleans RTA

Zack Smith Photography

Jefferson Transit (JeT) use their
existing bus and streetcar fleets.
The team also developed a
transit propensity index to understand where people are living,
working and going to school, as
well as data on where and when
people are traveling. Some of this
information comes from an origin-destination survey of RTA
and JeT riders in 2019, which gave
the planning team information on
who is using the transit system,
and where, when and why people
are traveling.
" The work of the New Links
project planning team to seamlessly connect RTA's modes and
transit systems across the region
is imperative as we strive to meet
the most basic transit needs of our
riders, " said Wiggins.
From this data, the team
compiled three transit re-design
concepts which were presented to
the community for feedback. The
final network plan was presented
to the RTA Board of Directors in
February. This new network plan
would increase the number of
people living within a half mile of
buses with 15- or 20-minute head-

The work of the New Links project planning

team to seamlessly connect RTA's modes and transit
systems across the region is imperative as we strive to
meet the most basic transit needs of our riders. "

ALEX WIGGINS, CEO

ways. It would improve service
for residents who live in poverty
and for households without cars.
The system would also be better
coordinated across parish lines
to reduce redundancy and make
transfers between systems easier.
The new plan would establish
transfer hubs in the West Bank,
East New Orleans, St. Bernard
and Jefferson Parishes, which
will allow more frequent service
by shortening run times on major
routes to the downtown corridors.
Combined, these changes will result in a measurable improvement
in transit equity, reliability and
overall rider experience.
With bringing transit operations and management in-house,
building an experienced leader-

ship team, focusing on the transit
needs of its riders and re-designing the transit system, the New
Orleans RTA is poised to lead the
nation in equitable, rider-focused
transit. This work is not new; it
builds on the legacy of New Orleans' early transit integration following the 1867 riots to integrate
the streetcar, as well as the city's
12-year resistance to the adoption
of the Louisiana's Separate Car
Act of 1890.
New Orleans is a city built on
diversity, resulting in a rich and
unique culture. The RTA is proud
to be a part of this community
and is honored to do its part to
ensure that New Orleans culture
endures and prosperity is shared
by all.

NORTA'S
EXECUTIVE
leadership team,
left to right:
Mike Smith,
Gizelle Banks,
Jose Ruiz, Mark
Major, Katherine
Bush Felton, Alex
Wiggins, Thomas
Stringer, Lona
Hankins, Darwyn
Anderson and
Robert Hickman.

MARCH 2021 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit |

http://www.MassTransitmag.com

Mass_Transit_March_2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mass_Transit_March_2021