The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority's major expansion, which includes new 24-hour lines and a shuttle service to the airport, is officially in effect as of this weekend.
The $5 million expansion is aimed at the city's service and construction workers, as well as those in outlying areas like New Orleans East, filling voids in the city's public transportation services that some have criticized for being too focused on tourists.
Routes providing 24-hour service now include: No. 39 Tulane, No. 47 Canal-Cemeteries Streetcar, No. 52 St. Bernard-Paris Avenue, No. 55 Elysian Fields, No. 63 New Orleans East Owl, No. 84 Galvez, No. 88 St. Claude, No. 94 Broad, and No. 114 Gen. de Gaulle-Sullen.
In addition, the following routes will add early-morning or late-night hours: No. 11 Magazine, No. 62 Morrison Express, No. 101 Algiers Point, No. 102 Gen. Meyer, and No. 115 Gen. de Gaulle-Tullis.
The No. 10 Tchoupitoulas, No. 27 Louisiana and No. 60 Hayne lines will add more weekend service.
The new express service from the CBD to the Louis Armstrong International Airport will start at Elk Place and Cleveland Avenue and stop at Union Passenger Terminal before heading to the airport. It will make nine daily round trips.
• Transit service in New Orleans gets major expansion Sunday [The Advocate]
• RTA Approves Express Route to the Airport, Plus 24-Hour Service on Nine Routes [Curbed NOLA]
• Does New Orleans Public Transportation Have a Tourism Bias? [Curbed NOLA]