Fred Neal, Jr. to serve as Board Chair

NEW ORLEANS – On Tuesday, November 26, the RTA Board of Commissioners seated two new members during its November meeting at RTA headquarters: State Legislature appointee Louis Colin, Sr. and City Council appointee Mitchell Guidry, Jr.

“Our Board is in a strong position to further the agency's objectives now that Commissioners Colin and Guidry have joined. As we continue to prioritize our riders, their expertise in the workplace and in the community will greatly benefit the Board,” said Fred Neal, Jr., RTA Board Chair.

Commissioner Colin is a proud native of the Lower Ninth Ward and a dedicated community leader with a strong background in public service and business. A retired Police Major with 26 years of service at the New Orleans Police Department, he transitioned into entrepreneurship as a McDonald’s franchisee, where he holds local and national leadership roles. 

Commissioner Colin holds an associate degree from Delgado Community College, a bachelor's in criminal justice from Loyola University, and a master's in public administration from Troy State University. He also serves on the Executive Board of Volunteers of America, the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, and mentors with the Silverbacks Society.

“I’m excited to bring my experience in leadership, service, and business development to help strengthen the agency’s funding and operations,” said Commissioner Colin. “This is about building a transit system that truly serves our community’s needs.”

Commissioner Guidry has previously served in transit starting in 1976 with the New Orleans Public Service, Inc. (NOPSI), where he transitioned from accounting and budgeting into scheduling. Through the operational shift to Transdev, Guidry’s commitment to transit continuity proved invaluable, and he remained with the agency until his retirement in 2018. In 2022, Guidry returned to support RTA’s new projects, using his wealth of experience to enhance community engagement, system transparency, and operational development. 

“My background is in transit, and I want to leverage that experience to help further develop the system. My focus is on enhancing connectivity and ensuring that we’re not just moving buses and trains but truly getting people to where they need to go – whether it’s work, school, to the doctor, or to the grocery,” said Commissioner Guidry. “It’s about creating a system that’s reliable, efficient, and responsive to the needs of our community.

“Commissioners Colin and Guidry are valuable additions to our Board, bringing extensive experience in government, public safety, business, and transit," said Lona Edwards Hankins, RTA CEO. “We are committed to accountability, collaboration, and transparency as we work with the Board. With the 2025 budget set for review this month and approval in December, we are closing 2024 on a high note and gearing up for an even more successful 2025.” 

Commissioner Colin will serve on the Finance Committee, while Commissioner Guidry will serve on the Operations & Administration Committee. In other business, Commissioner Fred Neal, Jr. was elected Board Chair. 

The two new commissioners bring the Board count to six. 

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The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana which is operated by an independent Board of Commissioners that serves Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. The agency operates car and passenger ferries, fixed-route buses, paratransit, streetcar, and limited on-demand service.