Transport For Nola

Research and analysis: we release annual "state of the transit system" reports that analyze strengths and weaknesses in new orleans region transit and make recommendations for improvements. The 2021 report highlighted important steps forward for regional transit like more transparent and responsive governance and the start of a realistic planning process that could bring specific improvements in as soon as a few years. But the report also showed the stark disparity between residents who rely on transit and residents who can afford private auto transportation. The average new orleanian with a car can reach 89 percent of the region's jobs in 30 minutes or less but if that same new orleanian is reliant on transit she would only be able to reach on average - 12 percent of the region's jobs. In a city with a high poverty rate, a high unemployment rate, and a high rate of carless households, this is a challenge that must be overcome in order to provide more equitable access to economic opportunity.

Educational outreach: we partner with community organizations to create events and materials to help transit riders and the community-at-large effectively engage in the transit decision-making process. Among other items, in 2021, we helped local residents to engage in the "new links" regional transit network redesign process and helped riders secure needed improvements to the main downtown new orleans bus transfer area.