Residents between 16 and 24 will have access to free public transit passes starting in September.
New Orleans residents aged 16 to 24 will have access to free passes for local public transit including Regional Transit Authority (RTA) services, reports Joni Hess for the Times-Picayune.
Residents will be able to sign up at local libraries starting in September as part of the city’s effort to improve mobility for youth. “This pilot program is funded by a $2.5 million budget allocation the City Council approved last year using American Rescue Plan Act money. RTA will receive a majority of the funding, while transit advocacy group RIDE New Orleans will get a portion for advertising and other supports.”
A report from advocacy group RIDE notes that transportation is a vital need for youth and provides valuable independence and access to jobs and social opportunities.
Cities must allocate federal pandemic relief funds by December 2024 or lose access to the funding. “By December 2026, around $110 million in in remaining ARPA funds must be spent by [New Orleans], according to federal requirements.”
FULL STORY: Young people in New Orleans can get free bus and streetcar passes this fall. Here's how.
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