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Award Contract for Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan
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DESCRIPTION: Request board authorization to award professional services contract to HDR Engineering for a streetcar System Modernization Master Plan
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text.
ACTION REQUEST:
? Approval ? Review Comment ? Information Only ? Other
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to award a contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. for the preparation of a Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.00.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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Streetcars have been an integral part of transit in New Orleans and the city's cultural and historical fabric for over 185 years. In addition to the St Charles line, considered the oldest continuously operating urban railway in the U.S., the RTA has added a number of newer streetcar routes-the Riverfront line (1988), Canal line and Carrollton Avenue spur (2004), and the Rampart/Loyola line (2013, 2016).
While streetcars are an iconic and charming component of the city's transit system, regular riders are familiar with the system's shortcomings. Challenges include:
* Slow travel speeds. By some measures, the RTA's streetcars are the slowest in the United States. This affects customer satisfaction, the cost of operations, and service headways.
* Safety issues. Collisions between streetcars and automobiles are frequent. In 2024 alone, there were 69 of these collisions, or approximately 6 per month.
* Accessibility. The historic Perley Thomas streetcars on St. Charles Avenue are not wheelchair accessible, and the vast majority of the stops on the St. Charles line are not wheelchair accessible. While the RTA's newer streetcar lines and vehicles are wheelchair accessible, the time involved in deploying the wheelchair lifts is considerable. Modern streetcar systems which offer level or near-level boarding provide greater convenience and accessibility.
These challenges are all...
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