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Downtown Regional Transit Center
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DESCRIPTION: Selection of a site for the future Downtown Regional Transit Center
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text.
ACTION REQUEST:
? Approval ? Review Comment ? Information Only ? Other
RECOMMENDATION:
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To select the Basin and Canal Street location for the future site of the Downtown Transit Center and to authorize staff to begin pursuing site control, funding and all engineering and assessments required to build the Transit Center in this location.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The New Orleans Central Business District (CBD) serves as the focal point for transit services in the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus routes, RTA's streetcar network, and various routes operated by Jefferson Parish Transit (JeT) converge on the CBD. The CBD is the region's largest employment and activity center; correspondingly, it is the largest destination for transit riders. Because so many routes and lines converge there, the CBD also functions as the system's primary transfer location. Nearly all routes in the regional system end in the CBD which then turn around to serve the outbound portion of their trip. There are few instances of interlined routes; that is, two segments that are linked in the CBD allowing buses to travel from one end of town to another without requiring a transfer.
There is no consolidated transfer location or facility in the CBD. Various routes and lines converge at different locations, mostly focused on or near Canal Street, to facilitate transfers to and from the Canal and Rampart streetcar lines, which are among the most heavily used transit lines in the region. The most significant area of concentration is at Elk Place and Canal Street.
Passenger amenities at Elk Place and other prominent transfer points are minimal. Seating and protection from the elements are in short supply. Many passengers walk several blocks to transfer from...
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