New Orleans RTA unveils $43.5 million Canal Street Ferry Terminal for enhanced connectivity

Credit: New Orleans RTA

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has announced that it has inaugurated the state-of-the-art $43.5 million Canal Street Ferry Terminal. This newly opened terminal serves as a vital link between the Eastbank and Westbank communities of the city through its cutting-edge passenger ferry service, connecting Canal Street and Algiers Point. 

Marking the culmination of an ambitious re-development project, the modern terminal replaces the old terminal which has now been demolished. The new terminal, designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), boasts a contemporary and compact design. Furthermore, it features a pedestrian bridge, seamlessly integrating the Riverfront and providing a smooth connection from Audubon Aquarium to Spanish Plaza. This strategic re-development envisions enhanced connectivity across various transit modes, offering passengers a safe and dependable journey.

The terminal’s design is centred around accommodating the new RTA passenger ferry vessels, RTA1 and RTA2, reflecting the agency’s commitment to catering to passenger needs. The project had a total cost of $43.5 million, a collaborative effort supported by diverse public funding sources. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) had contributed $24.3 million, with additional financial backing from the City of New Orleans ($5.9 million), the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development ($2 million) and the RTA itself ($6.5 million).

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“We thank our federal, local and state partners for their support and commitment as we work to address our aging transit infrastructure. Not only does this project deliver much needed accessibility and rider enhancements, but it will also have a lasting impact on our regional economy,” said Lona Edwards Hankins, CEO of New Orleans RTA. “The new terminal’s $43.5 million project cost is estimated to have garnered $174 million in economic return to our regional economy, including small and disadvantaged businesses.”

“The new Canal Street Terminal will expand how people travel by providing safer, more accessible routes to the ferry,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “RTA riders are traveling to work, pursuing an education, and connecting with people. We are proud to support RTA’s efforts to modernise to meet the needs of today’s riders.”