New Orleans — The historic St. Charles streetcar line of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is expected to receive a spark in additional improvements in its ADA compliance and handicapped accessibility. This will be possible with over $5 million in funding from a recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, recently announced by Congressman Troy Carter on X (formally Twitter).
According to the May 23, 2024, post: “@NewOrleansRTA is getting $5,492,524 to make the St. Charles streetcar line #ADA compliant. This is vital to make public transportation accessible to everyone. I’m proud to have championed the #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw which made this possible.”
Beginning as a horse-drawn operation in 1835, electrified by the late 19th Century, the St. Charles line is cherished as New Orleans’ oldest streetcar route in addition to being named a National Historic Landmark. It’s one of five lines in RTA’s network to use vintage equipment while providing public transportation between downtown and the nearby tourist destinations. Significant improvements since 2019 [See “Service curtailed as New Orleans streetcar…” Trains News Wire, Aug. 26, 2019] introduced the St. Charles line to three ADA-accessible streetcars and 12 rebuilt stops to accommodate wheelchair lifts.
