NEW ORLEANS – Today, Mark Raymond, Jr., Chair of the RTA Board of Commissioners, issued a statement concerning the completion of an investigation concerning the RTA’s CEO and Board vacancies:

“Taking seriously the RTA’s Board of Commissioners’ fiduciary and policy oversight roles of the agency, the Board approved the tasking of Transcendent Law Group to complete an investigation into procurement actions taken outside of the agency’s adopted procurement policies. The agency is working with the vendor in question to ensure all appropriate measures are taken to reconcile the issues in a timely manner.

“Further, the Board is taking actions to maintain essential Board functions while addressing the resignations of three Jefferson Parish board members and one Orleans Parish member. In the meantime, the agency remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering reliable transit services and upgrading our critical transit infrastructure, while simultaneously preparing to offer fresh and sustainable perspectives to help build the transit agency New Orleanians deserve and expect.

“Since 2019, the agency was awarded $408 million in competitive federal grant funding, an investment that is projected to yield a $2 billion return for our local economy. Considering the many agency gains over the last few years, it is important now more than ever that we remain unified as one team and one RTA family to deliver on the many game-changing transit infrastructure projects. This includes the Downtown Transit Center, Bus Rapid Transit, our new energy-efficient bus fleet and microgrid, and the desperately needed improvements to ADA accessibility on our streetcar system. Together, these projects improve transit service and reliability as well as leverage public transportation as a tool to help build a diverse and vibrant local economy.”

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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.