 This month, we pause to honor the extraordinary legacies of two towering leaders whose lives reshaped our city and our nation, Dr. Norman C. Francis & Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Dr. Norman C. Francis dedicated decades to expanding educational opportunities and strengthening civic life in New Orleans. His steady leadership, commitment to equity, and belief in the power of access helped transform institutions and uplift generations of students and families across the country.
Reverend Jesse Jackson’s lifelong advocacy for civil rights, economic justice, and inclusion challenged our nation to confront inequality and expand opportunity for all. His work during and beyond the Civil Rights Movement emphasized the importance of access including equitable access to public transportation, as a cornerstone of freedom, mobility, and participation in public life.
At RTA, we recognize that transit is more than a service; it is a pathway to opportunity. We are grateful for leaders like Dr. Francis and Reverend Jackson, whose legacies continue to inspire our commitment to equity, access, and service to the community.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority has been awarded a $27.2 million federal grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (FY2025 Round 2 using FY2026 funds).
This funding will support the replacement of aging buses that have reached or exceeded their useful life and the rehabilitation of two critical operations and maintenance facilities. These upgrades will help reduce maintenance costs, improve reliability and on-time performance, and strengthen the infrastructure that supports daily bus operations across the region.
With this award, RTA has secured approximately $197 million in competitive federal grant funding since 2019, reflecting continued progress in modernizing the system and investing in long-term reliability, safety, and operational excellence
These investments reinforce RTA’s commitment to delivering safe, dependable service while building a stronger transit system for the future.
 The Universal Accessibility Study (UAS) is wrapping up and we want to hear from you one more time!
RTA invites riders and residents to join us at the upcoming for a final public touchpoint to review key findings and share feedback to help improve accessibility across our system.
Location:
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority Headquarters
2817 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM
This is your opportunity to learn more about the study’s recommendations and help shape solutions that enhance accessibility and the overall rider experience. We encourage all riders, advocates, and community members to attend and share their input.
To learn more about the Universal Accessibility Study, visit norta.com/UAS.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority finalized a new labor agreement with United Labor Union (ULU) Local 100, marking another key step in strengthening our workforce and supporting the employees who keep transit moving every day.
This agreement reflects continued collaboration between labor and management and reinforces our shared commitment to providing competitive wages, workplace stability, and opportunities for employee engagement. By investing in our workforce, RTA is helping ensure consistent, reliable service for riders across the region.
Strong partnerships with our unions play a critical role in delivering the safe, dependable transit our community relies on, and we look forward to building upon this momentum together.
RTA hosted the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) for a special luncheon commemorating Transit Equity Day, a day that honors the legacy of civil rights champions like Rosa Parks and highlights the importance of accessible, affordable transit for all.
The event featured remarks from RTA’s Chief Legal Officer, Tracey Tyler, who reflected on the contributions of Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin, two women whose courageous actions helped shape the movement toward transit equity and civil rights in America.
Transit Equity Day also offered an opportunity to celebrate the role public transportation plays in connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, and community life. RTA recognized the day with free rides systemwide, reinforcing our commitment to making transit accessible for every resident of our region.
 This Black History Month, we honor Freddie Sawyer, New Orleans’ first African American bus operator. By breaking barriers and leading with courage, he helped shape the transit system we know today. His legacy continues to inspire progress, inclusion, and opportunity.
Brian Whitaker, Operations (Bus Operator)
We are honored to recognize Brian Whitaker as our Employee of the Month. For years, he has served RTA as a bus operator with an impressive 95.8% on time performance. Known for his kindness and professionalism, Brian never complains and does not hesitate to step in when needed.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys spending time with his family. He has 9 children and enjoys being with his 12 grandchildren and is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.
We thank Brian for his outstanding service and commitment and congratulate him on the well-deserved recognition.
Christopher Crowden, Maintenance (Mechanic)
Christopher Crowden has been employed with the RTA for 13 years as a mechanic. Christopher is dependable, punctual and never complains of a task given to him. Christopher enjoys working at RTA as the employees are family and the opportunities are great. Christopher takes great pride in his work and ensures our lift buses are in top notch shape.
We thank Christopher for his outstanding service and commitment and congratulate him on the well-deserved recognition.
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