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Ratification of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) Between the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) for the 2026 Mardi Gras Season
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DESCRIPTION: Ratification of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) Between the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) for the 2026 Mardi Gras Season |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Ratify the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) for transit services during the 2026 Mardi Gras Season.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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On January 27, 2026, the RTA Board of Commissioners authorized the CEO to continue to negotiate and execute a CEA with the City of New Orleans (# 26-003) for transit services during the 2026 Mardi Gras Season in keeping with previous years’ agreements. On January 30, 2026, the RTA received an urgent request from OPSO for direct transit support, proposed to be administered through a standalone agreement. Simultaneously, both the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and Sanitation Department confirmed they no longer required RTA transportation services.
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DISCUSSION:
To support the regional initiative to maintain a safe environment during the 2026 Mardi Gras season, the RTA shifted its resource allocation to provide passenger buses and experienced equipment operators directly to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO). This change was necessitated by the immediate need for deputy transportation following NOPD’s decision not to request transportation from RTA.
This ratification formalizes a separate agreement directly with OPSO for the 2026 season, providing the necessary legal standing to invoice for services and secure full reimbursement of all operational costs.
By limiting this authorization specifically to the 2026 season, the RTA maintains the flexibility to re-evaluate and refine inter-agency coordination processes in future years while ensuring that all resources deployed during the current Carnival window are professionally managed and financially recovered.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Total expenses for this initiative are not to exceed $225,000.00, consistent with the budget previously authorized by the Board in Resolution # 26-003. Current projections for 2026 (based on a requirement of 8 buses for 10 hours daily over a 10-day period) estimate a total cost of approximately $111,800.00. This remains well under the established financial cap. The CEA includes a full reimbursement provision to ensure the RTA is made whole for all costs incurred.
NEXT STEPS:
Following Board ratification, the RTA Legal Department will finalize the execution of the 2026 CEA with OPSO. Upon the conclusion of the 2026 Mardi Gras season, the RTA will submit an itemized invoice to OPSO for all transportation services rendered, including labor and equipment costs, to ensure full financial reimbursement. Additionally, RTA Emergency Management will conduct an after-action review to evaluate the coordination process and determine the most effective framework for providing transit support for future Mardi Gras seasons.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Resolution 26-027 (Ratification)
• Resolution 26-003 (Original City Authorization)
• Draft CEA - RTA and OPSO (2026)
Prepared By: Craig Toomey
Title: Senior Director, Emergency Management
Reviewed By: Mike Smith
Title: Chief Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Officer
Reviewed By: Tracy Tyler
Title: Chief Legal Officer
2/10/2026
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer