NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans RTA issued the following statement on the close of the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Session:

“The RTA and its riders are grateful to Sen. Gary Carter, the New Orleans delegation, and the State Legislature for approving the more than $10.5 million to support operations of the Canal/Algiers and Chalmette ferry service which the RTA has operated on behalf of the state of Louisiana since 2014.

“By helping to bridge the Canal/Algiers and Chalmette ferry service operations budget shortfall for fiscal year 2024 with $10 million in House Bill 1 and providing an additional $500,000 in capital outlay to conduct a comprehensive study of ferry fleet replacement options, the State Legislature is maintaining critical regional connections between housing and employment centers,” said Lona Edwards Hankins, RTA Chief Executive Officer.

Statement from Louisiana Sen. Gary Carter (D-7):

“During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Louisiana Legislature appropriated $10,000,000 to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for operations and maintenance of the ferries in Algiers. The Algiers ferries provide vital transportation to thousands of daily passengers, connect communities on both the East and West Banks, and economically impact businesses in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes. This $10,000,000 appropriation would not have been possible without the support of the entire Louisiana Legislature, the Governor’s Office, and the RTA and its leadership, particularly CEO Lona Hankins.”

The RTA has operated the ferry service on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) since 2014, when the original Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) between the agencies was approved to operate and fund ferry service on behalf of the State of Louisiana.

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The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a sub-division 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.