The RTA has officially begun construction on New Orleans’ first new streetcar line since 2004. The Loyola Avenue line will run 1.5 miles between Amtrak’s Union Passenger Terminal (UPT) and Canal Street and will feature four covered stations at the UPT, Julia Street, Poydras Street, and Tulane Avenue.

By serving the UPT, which is located right next to the Greyhound station, this line will create a new bridge connecting New Orleans’ local transit with regional and national transit networks. In addition, the Loyola Ave. line will improve access to the Central Business District from everywhere else in the city. Once the line is complete, the expected result will be a sharp economic growth along the Loyola Avenue corridor and nearby streets.

This growth has already begun. The Hyatt Regency Hotel, which has been shuttered since Katrina, is working on a $243 million renovation. The Benson Tower near the Superdome will contain a $100-million office-sports-entertainment complex. Since plans for the new Loyola Avenue line first went public, several other major renovation and new-construction projects have been announced and are underway.

The RTA secured $45 million to fund this new line from a federal TIGER grant which is awarded to transportation projects that will spur economic growth and create environmental benefits. According to the terms of the grant, the streetcar line will be open for service in mid-2012.

An official groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 7, 2011, attended by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, RTA Board members, and many other local officials.

The RTA has more streetcar expansion plans and other exciting projects underway. See the System Improvements page for more information.