NEW ORLEANS – Today, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority received a $71,439,261 grant to put new American-built buses on the road and improve transit service. The grants, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration, were made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Troy Carter helped get passed through Congress.

"The New Orleans RTA continues to embrace green infrastructure as we work to modernize our fleet. We know that the adoption of low- and zero-emission vehicles are an essential part of these efforts,” said Lona Edwards Hankins, RTA CEO. “But this isn't just about creating more environmentally friendly fleets and facilities; it's also about modernizing our workforce so that we can attract, train and retrain the best employees in this field and in the process strengthen our position as a regional economic force. I want to thank our congressional delegation for their partnership in these investments."

The $71.4 million award announced today will fund:

• 20 Battery electric buses 
• 2 En route chargers 
• 6 Depot chargers 
• 1 Microgrid ($30 million) 
• $3.5 million to develop a training program to support the maintenance of electric buses and charging facilities.

“Every day, over 60,000 buses in communities of all sizes take millions of Americans to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”

“Investing in Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure makes our state a more attractive home for companies and families considering moving here,” said U.S. Sen. Dr. Bill Cassidy. “This funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a great step towards greater economic growth.”

“I’m excited to announce this grant which will put cleaner, American-made buses on the road in New Orleans,” said Rep. Carter. “The funding means more electric buses and fewer carbon emissions, nicer facilities and better service, and support for good-paying jobs to build, drive, and maintain the new fleet. Let’s get moving, New Orleans!”

The funding also includes support for workforce training, registered apprenticeships, and project labor agreements, ensuring good-paying jobs into the future.  

The award announced today are supported by FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. They make funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans; make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles; and purchase supporting equipment like chargers for battery electric vehicles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through Fiscal Year 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined. 

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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.