The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) approved a preliminary design contract for the city’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system, marking a significant milestone in advancing one of the region’s most transformative transit projects.

The approval follows the adoption of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) by both the New Orleans City Council and the RTA Board of Commissioners in 2023 — a key step in defining the overall vision for the BRT corridor, which will connect New Orleans East, Central Business District, and West Bank riders to neighborhoods, jobs, and other key destinations through dedicated bus lanes, frequent service, enhanced stations, and priority traffic signaling.

“Today’s BRT contract approval represents this agency’s firm commitment to delivering high-quality, rider-centric transit for our city,” said Lona Edwards Hankins, CEO of the New Orleans RTA. “With design work set to begin, we’re moving from vision to reality, bringing New Orleans one step closer to a faster, more connected future.”

The Road to BRT

Building on extensive public outreach and earlier planning efforts, the RTA will begin design work in December with a multidisciplinary team led by AECOM. 

The next phase will include a community engagement process as design work progresses, which will help the agency refine station layouts, lane and intersection designs, and other key features to ensure the BRT system reflects community priorities and delivers faster, more frequent, and more reliable service for riders, RTA officials said.

“This project is a game-changer for New Orleans transit. It reflects the years of community input and planning that went into shaping a system that truly serves the people of this city,” said RTA Board Chair Fred Neal.