New Orleans doesn’t have a subway or light rail — its signature ride is the streetcar, backed up by a citywide bus network and a couple of ferries across the Mississippi. One agency, the RTA, runs nearly all of it, one fare works across buses and streetcars, and every ride comes with a free transfer.
The basics
The streetcars are the heart of the system, and each line has its own personality:
- St. Charles Streetcar — running since 1835, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the country. It rattles from Canal Street through the Garden District and Uptown to Carrollton Avenue. Construction is underway near its Carrollton end right now — see the alert above.
- Canal Streetcar — runs the length of Canal Street from the river to the cemeteries, with a spur up to City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
- Riverfront Streetcar — a short, scenic run along the river past the French Quarter and the Warehouse District.
- Rampart–St. Claude Streetcar — from the Union Passenger Terminal through downtown, then along Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue.
Buses fill in everywhere the streetcars don’t reach, and RTA also runs two ferries across the Mississippi — one connecting Canal Street downtown to Algiers Point, the other linking Lower Algiers and Chalmette. Two smaller neighboring agencies pick up where RTA’s territory ends: Jefferson Parish Transit (JP Transit) in Jefferson Parish (Metairie, Kenner, and the airport area) and St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit (SBURT) in St. Bernard Parish.
How to pay
Pay when you board, using one of three ways:
- The Le Pass app — buy a fare on your phone, then just show the screen to the driver or fare reader when you board. No card, no cash.
- A Jazzy Pass card — buy or reload one at the RTA office on Canal Street, a participating retailer, or a ticket machine (cash only at the machines), then dip it into the farebox every time you board.
- Exact cash on board — drivers don’t carry change, so bring coins or small bills.
Every fare — cash, card, or app — includes a free two-hour transfer, so you can switch between bus, streetcar, and ferry without paying twice.
Fares
| Single ride | 1-Day Pass | 31-Day Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $1.25 | $3.00 | $45.00 |
| Priority Rider (65+, Medicare, disability) | $0.40 | $0.80 | $14.00 |
| Youth (age 5 – 12th grade) | $0.50 | $1.00 | $18.00 |
| Kids under 5 | Free | — | — |
A 3-Day Pass ($8.00) and 7-Day Pass ($15.00) are also available — often the simplest option if you’re visiting for a few days, since you stop thinking about fares entirely. The ferries charge their own fare: $2.00 adult, $1.00 Priority/Youth, each way (also covered by a Jazzy Pass). If a trip also uses Jefferson Parish Transit, a Regional Ride fare ($6.00) covers both systems on one ticket.
Getting from the airport
The 202 Airport Express bus connects Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) to downtown, stopping at Poydras at Freret, the Main Library Hub, the Union Passenger Terminal (UPT Bus Bay 2), and the Canal Street Ferry Terminal at the edge of the French Quarter.
- Cost: the regular RTA fare — $1.25, same as any other ride.
- Frequency: roughly every 50 minutes through the day.
- Hours: the first bus leaves the airport around 4:50am; the last leaves around 10:10pm.
There’s no rail link to the airport, and the 202 doesn’t run late at night — if you land after last departure, plan on a cab or rideshare.
Apps to download
- Le Pass — the official RTA app: buy and activate fares, plan trips, and track buses, streetcars, and ferries in real time.
- Transit — plan trips and buy fares across both RTA and Jefferson Parish Transit in one app; RTA riders also get its premium “Transit Royale” features for free.
- Google Maps — fine for basic trip planning with live RTA data built in.
When it runs
Streetcars and most bus lines run from early morning into the evening, with service thinning out considerably at night and on weekends. Check the Le Pass or Transit app before counting on a late-night ride — New Orleans doesn’t run a true 24-hour network across the board.
Accessibility
Standard RTA buses, the modern streetcars (Canal, Riverfront, Rampart–St. Claude), and the ferry docks are equipped for riders with disabilities. The historic St. Charles Streetcar is the exception: its vintage 1920s-style cars weren’t originally built for it, so only a handful of heritage-style replica cars on that line have wheelchair lifts, and RTA is still working through a multi-year, federally funded plan to bring more stops into ADA compliance. If you need a lift-equipped car on St. Charles, call Rideline (504-248-3900) to check which car is running.
Paratransit door-to-door service is available for riders who can’t use fixed-route buses or streetcars, but it requires an application and advance reservations.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Pay as you board — there’s no honor system here; the driver or farebox checks every rider.
- On the St. Charles line, flag the streetcar down like a bus; it doesn’t stop automatically just because you’re standing at a stop.
- Streetcars and buses get rerouted around parades constantly during Mardi Gras and festival season — check the Le Pass app for detours if you’re riding during Carnival.
- Priority seating near the doors is for riders with disabilities and seniors — offer it up.
Good to know
- Track work: RTA is mid-project on the St. Charles line near Carrollton and Claiborne — see the alert at the top of this page for the current bus-bridge detour.
- No money loaded yet? The Le Pass app works even if you haven’t pre-loaded funds, as long as you activate your pass while still on wifi before boarding.
- Hurricane season (June–November) can suspend service on short notice — check norta.com or the Le Pass app for storm alerts.