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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.
ACTION REQUEST:
? Approval ? Review Comment ? Information Only ? Other
RECOMMENDATION:
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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 20...
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