In fact, he says riders actually returned before the RTA was ready to accommodate them. Wiggins was happy to share that RTA returned to full transit service on June 20, and ridership is back.

Of course, RTA also increased the frequency of cleaning, installed barriers to protect operators from exposure, and invested in PPE and hand sanitizers. “These are highly technical jobs, and our employees have been trained extensively, so maintaining staff was critical for us,” Wiggins says. They responded with a reduction in service and received federal funding to keep the system alive - and were fortunate enough to avoid employee layoffs. We all experienced challenges during the recent pandemic, and in New Orleans, the RTA saw a 90% drop in ridership and 70% drop in revenue when it began. “This agency has the most resilient workforce I’ve ever seen we have some real tough cookies here.” COVID Response “We are tested every summer with hurricanes, and our workforce has become exceptionally adept at managing emergencies, responding to events, and being focused on service delivery during difficult times,” he says. The RTA even plays a major role in assisting with city evacuations.īut Wiggins maintains that the organization’s best competitive advantage is its workforce.

To combat and respond to emergencies, the agency has an all-hazards plan in place because the region is tested so often. Last year, New Orleans was “in the cone” seven times and experienced one direct hit. While we are all familiar with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Wiggins says the RTA expects some form of a storm every year from June through November. The city is no stranger to major weather events. “In transit, we know a lot about planes, trains, and automobiles, but maritime is a whole different world, and you really have to go out and get that specific expertise,” Wiggins says. Two RTA ferry executives have this unique background, as one is a retired Coast Guard officer and the other is a former executive director of a ferry system officer in Puerto Rico. While most public transit companies are familiar with guidance set forth from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and DOT, ferry lines receive oversight, safety, and security from the U.S. “As an agency, we have to maintain focus on service quality that benefits our core ridership while recognizing the unique features of our streetcars,” says RTA CEO Alex Wiggins. During the weekdays, RTA’s core ridership consists of people going to and from work. Charles, which transforms into a quasi-tour bus. And because the city is a tourist destination, weekends are typically dominated by visitors, many of whom hop on the St.

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