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NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), in coordination with St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit (SBURT), has extended its 86-St. Maurice-Chalmette service in St. Bernard Parish on Judge Perez Drive to Nunez Community College.
The 86-St. Maurice-Chalmette, which serves the Lower Ninth Ward along St. Claude Avenue and St. Bernard Hospital along West Judge Perez Drive, previously terminated at Dr. Meraux Boulevard. The route will now continue along West Judge Perez Drive, to Paris Road, and to the Nunez Community College campus, the new route terminus.
RTA will service all existing SBURT stops along the newly extended route, which will operate from Monday through Sunday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. SBURT will continue to operate its bus service Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on their existing route which overlaps with portions of the extended RTA service.
"We are grateful to St. Bernard Parish President Guy Mcinnis for his commitment to connecting St. Bernard and Orleans Parish residents to the places they work, live, and learn,“ said Lona Edwards Hankins, RTA CEO. “As transit agencies across the nation try to leverage limited financial resources, it is important for local government agencies to work together to connect housing, educational, and employment centers across our region.”
“A major goal of the community college is to remove barriers to higher education. RTA’s addition of a stop on the Nunez campus addresses the very real barrier of transportation and access. The many services and programs available at Nunez will be accessible to more of our local citizens,” said Nunez Chancellor Dr. Tina Tinney. “Proximity is one piece of the puzzle, but proximity without transportation is a missed opportunity. We’re excited to partner with RTA and St. Bernard Parish to expand our reach through public transportation.”
The extension is part of RTA’s Summer 2023 service change, which took effect Sunday, June 4, 2023, and reflects minor adjustments to the schedules on most lines.
Orleans and St. Bernard Parish riders are encouraged to review the new periwinkle-colored transit schedules which are available on RTA buses, Orleans and St. Bernard public libraries, and in the lobby of the Canal Street Facility located at 2817 Canal St. and at the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex located at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive. Digital copies are also available at norta.com and on the Le Pass mobile app. Riders from both parishes are encouraged to call Rideline at 504-248-3900 for questions about RTA or SBURT Service.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a sub-division of the State of Louisiana which is operated by an independent Board of Commissioners that serves Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. The agency operates car and passenger ferries, fixed-route buses, paratransit, streetcar, and limited on-demand service.
Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution located in Chalmette, Louisiana that delivers relevant and innovative curriculum integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez Community College has expanded programming offerings to support community partnerships and workforce, which include but are not limited to Paralegal Studies, Coastal Studies and GIS Technology, and Wastewater Plant Operator. In 2018 Nunez Community College began offering Aerospace Manufacturing Technology, the only program dedicated to Aerospace Manufacturing Technicians in the state of Louisiana.
