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NEW ORLEANS, LA - On Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Transportation Committee convened to discuss and vote on a resolution to establish a permanent Opportunity Pass program to continue fare-free public transportation for New Orleans youth. Additionally, the committee received several presentations from various organizations surrounding different facets of public transit.
Opportunity Pass Program Resolution
The committee discussed and recommended approval of Resolution R-26-356, which establishes a permanent Opportunity Pass program to provide fare-free RTA bus, streetcar, and ferry service to New Orleans youth ages 16–24.
The pilot, launched in 2024 with ARPA funding, enrolled more than 11,500 youth across all Council districts and recorded more than 500,000 daily transit pass activations, helping participants access education, employment, career training, healthcare, childcare, and community activities.
With the pilot no longer accepting new participants due to limited funding and expected to exhaust its ARPA funds by the end of 2026, the resolution calls for pursuing public and private funding to establish a permanent program and, if sufficient funding is secured, developing the staffing and administrative structure needed to sustain it.
For a presentation-style breakdown of what the Opportunity Pass program does, click here.
E-Bike Safety Presentation
The committee received a presentation regarding e-bike safety from multiple public departments and organizations. The Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program has moved to the implementation phase, highlighting e-bike safety as a key issue as ownership and shared access expand in New Orleans.
The presentation noted four e-bike-related traffic fatalities from January through June 2026, a decline from previous years. It emphasized that legal e-bikes must meet specific requirements, including a seat, qualifying wheels, operable pedals, an electric motor under 750 watts, and Class 1, 2, or 3 operating characteristics.
The presentation urged modernizing New Orleans’ e-bike ordinance, which predates Louisiana’s three-class system, and establishing a clear classification linked to procurement, data, and public education. While helmet laws are governed by Louisiana law, it recommends safety education beyond the legal minimum. As e-bike use grows, the City should improve infrastructure like bike lanes and shared paths, and promote safe speeds, especially keeping e-bikes on shared paths at 15 mph or below.
To view the full presentation, click here.
Ground Transportation Bureau Presentation
The Ground Transportation Bureau (GTB) gave a presentation before the committee highlighting several challenges and recommended solutions for addressing them. These challenges include staffing and operational constraints while continuing to process permits, conduct vehicle inspections, and provide testing and regulatory services for New Orleans’ for-hire transportation industry.
GTB recommended increasing staffing by two office employees and three investigators, filling existing vacancies, and returning furloughed employees to regular duty. The bureau also recommends reviewing and adjusting its fee structure to fund additional personnel and reduce processing and inspection wait times.
GTB further identifies the need for a centralized operating location to improve communication and coordination between office and investigative staff, who are currently split between City Hall and the RTA Gentilly Station. The bureau proposes evaluating bond funding to renovate the former brake tag station on Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans East and to establish it as a centralized GTB facility.
To view the full presentation, click here.
Connecting New Orleans East Project
The Connecting New Orleans East (DPW780) project is funded through a $2.2 million USDOT Neighborhood Access & Equity Program grant for preliminary design and community engagement. Since January 2026, the City has conducted stakeholder workshops, walking audits, and two public meetings to gather input and develop a framework for prioritizing improvements.
The project aims to create a connected network of shared-use paths along the I-10 Service Roads and across existing interchanges from Morrison Road to the Vincent Canal, with lighting throughout the corridor.
The full project is estimated to cost $23.8 million, including $12.3 million for 11 miles of shared-use paths, $5 million for lighting, $2.5 million for landscaping, and approximately $600,000 per canal crossing for six crossings.
To view the full presentation, click here.
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