Public Transit

Aging buses are breaking down more often and being pulled off the street for repairs, causing major headaches for the approximately 30,000 people who rely on the RTA every day.

Lona Edwards Hankins, who took the helm at the Regional Transit Authority in March, joins us to talk about bus shelters, rider communications, and rapid transit plans.

The Thursday vote came after a delay last month, when council member Freddie King raised concerns that the new route could increase traffic. Now, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority will be able to seek federal funding to help advance the line.

DOTD springs last-minute meeting before legislative session

Lona Edwards Hankins was selected for the agency's top job, after serving as interim CEO since December. But some transit leaders said the agency's hiring process lacked transparency.

Plans for a faster bus line that could connect New Orleans East to the west bank were dealt an early blow on Tuesday, after a city council committee moved to delay a vote on the rapid transit proposal.

Regional Transit Authority CEO Alex Wiggins said he will step down at the end of the year to spend more time with family.

Public transportation in New Orleans saw some big updates in 2022, including reconfigured bus routes, reduced fares and a new app. But in their annual report, advocacy group RIDE New Orleans highlights longstanding problems — like inequitable access to jobs for transit riders and poor communication about changes underway.

Public transportation in New Orleans just went through its first major redesign since Hurricane Katrina. That means many transit riders have seen their regular commutes change — either minorly or dramatically.

The network overhaul takes effect on Sept. 25 and "is the first major redesign of the transit network since Hurricane Katrina," said New Orleans RTA CEO Alex Wiggins.