Transportation and Airport Committee Meeting - August 27, 2026
Transportation and Airport Committee Meeting - August 27, 2026
The Transportation and Airport Committee met on August 27, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. to discuss and vote on several items including a resolution to support permanent fare-free transit for youth, an update from the Ground Transportation Bureau, a presentation on e-bike safety, and a status update on the Connecting New Orleans East project. Public comment was heard on GTB operations, illegal pedicabs and golf carts, e-bike safety, and the Opportunity Pass program. The committee approved the minutes from June 10, 2026, and passed Resolution R-26-356.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the June 10, 2026 meeting. (Motion by Councilmember Green, seconded by Councilmember Harris, all ayes.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ground Transportation Bureau (GTB) Operations: Six members of the public spoke on issues related to pedicabs, golf carts, and licensing. Evan Alford (Needaride Petty Cabs), Tree, PJ Lynch, Timothy Huft, Rob Lynch, Solomon Xavier, Jason Coleman, and Bishara Nemmy all expressed concerns about unlicensed operators (golf carts and pedicabs) flooding the market, the slow licensing process (currently taking 4–6 weeks), and the lack of enforcement. Several speakers urged the city to enforce existing laws, conduct a market study before issuing new CPNCs, and streamline the application process. Jason Coleman also raised concerns about due process hearings and transparency in public records requests.
- Opportunity Pass Resolution: Multiple speakers supported Resolution R-26-356. Lola Reynard (Ride Youth Ambassador) described the program's growth from zero to over 11,500 enrollees. Tim Spawn-Sadler (NET High Schools) noted the program reduced one-day RTA pass costs from $160 to $71 per student per year. Lauren Nagel (Bike Easy), Caitlin Scanlon (Café Reconcile), Morgan Clevinger, and Reverend Lisa Williamson all spoke in favor, highlighting the program's benefits for youth workforce development, education access, and family budgets.
- E-bike Safety: Lauren Nagel (Bike Easy) announced a Smart E-biking class on September 26, 2026, offering free helmets and reflective gear. Morgan Clevinger and Reverend Lisa Williamson emphasized the need for enforcement of bike lane parking laws, protected infrastructure, and education for e-bike riders.
Discussion Items
- Ground Transportation Bureau (GTB) Update: Director of Public Works Steve Nelson, GTB Administrator Delisia Crayton, and Assistant Administrator Yolanda Brownfield presented year-to-date activity: over 3,200 permits issued/renewed, over 2,000 driver/tour guide permits, 71 tour guide tests, and 7,000 inspections. There are 557–600 school buses requiring two annual inspections, each using three investigators; 400 inspections are currently backlogged. Staffing shortages (three office staff handling 3,400 drivers and 2,000 CPNCs) and furloughs (50% of 15 staff) were noted. The team recommended updating fees (unchanged since 2019) to fund five additional positions ($170,000) and consolidating to a single location on Old Gentilly Road (bond-funded, but delayed to 2028). Councilmember Green highlighted the importance of school bus inspections and the impact of furloughs. Councilmember Harris asked about a timeline for fee increases. The committee discussed illegal golf carts and the need for a market study before issuing new licenses.
- Opportunity Pass Resolution (R-26-356): Courtney Jackson, Bob Danton, and Sierra Gaines (RIDE New Orleans) presented data from the pilot program launched September 2024 with $2.5 million in ARPA funds. Key stats: 11,500 enrolled youth (55% daily riders, 75% weekly; 62% Black/African American, 17% White, 8% Hispanic/Latino; two-thirds in high school/college; 20% not in school). Usage peaks at 5–6 AM and afternoon, concentrated in New Orleans East, Desire, Gentilly Woods, Algiers. The program costs an estimated $850,000 per year (including administrative costs) and funding expires December 月 2026. Ride New Orleans is seeking private funding; the resolution expresses support for making the program permanent. The committee voted unanimously to approve R-26-356, sending it to the full City Council.
- E-bike Safety Presentation: Jeannie Donovan (Health Department), William Johnson (Injury Prevention Manager), Jennifer Ruley (DPW Mobility and Safety), and Lieutenant Regina Williams (NOPD) presented. E-bikes are defined as having a seat, wheels, operating pedals, and a motor ≤750 watts (classes 1–3, max 20–28 mph). State law treats e-bikes as bicycles; city code hasn't been updated since 2019. In 2026, there have been four e-bike/e-moto fatalities. Overall traffic fatalities are trending downward (19 so far in 2026, on track to continue decline). The city is launching an e-bike rebate program (3,000 rebates up to $1,200) in late September and expanding Blue Bikes to 2,000 bikes by Mardi Gras 2027. Lieutenant Williams reported 110 bicycle stops for education and 38 parking tickets issued for bike lane violations ($300 fine). Policy changes in development: updated definitions, facility rules, standard crash reporting, device testing, and safety requirements tied to city-funded e-bike vouchers. Councilmember Green emphasized the need for helmets and education; Councilmember Harris requested signage on the Lafite Greenway and better enforcement at locations like Chick-fil-A on Loyola.
- Connecting New Orleans East Project Update: Andrew Logan and Virginia Brisley (DPW) reported on the project originally awarded $62 million from the federal government (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), of which 95% was rescinded, leaving ,2.2 million for preliminary design and community engagement. The project aims to construct 11 miles of shared-use paths, lighting, landscaping, and six canal crossings along I-10 service roads from Morrison Road to Vincent Canal. Community engagement (January–May 2026) included four stakeholder meetings (25 participants), two public meetings, and a survey (300 responses). Top priorities: Crowder Boulevard and Bullard Avenue interchanges. Construction cost estimated at $23.8 million. The Regional Planning Commission has committed $5 million in federal funds (with $1.25 million city match) for a phase one project scheduled for 2030. The city is also exploring bond funds for lighting. Councilmember Green expressed disappointment over the federal rescission and urged the state of Louisiana to contribute.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution R-26-356 Approved: The committee unanimously approved a resolution supporting a permanent Opportunity Pass program for fare-free transit for youth ages 16–24 on RTA buses, streetcars, and ferries. The resolution will be forwarded to the full City Council.
- GTB Recommendations: The committee endorsed GTB's recommendations to update fee structures (first review since 2019) to fund additional staff (two office, three investigator positions) and to consolidate to a central location. The committee also directed staff to work with NOPD on enforcement against illegal golf carts and pedicabs, and to consider a market study before issuing new CPNCs.
- E-bike Policy Direction: The committee requested that the Health Department, DPW, and NOPD develop updated ordinances (aligned with state law) regarding e-bike definitions, facility rules, and safety requirements. Councilmember Green asked for safety education to be tied to the city's e-bike rebate program. Councilmember Harris requested improved signage on the Lafite Greenway and enforcement of bike lane parking.
- Connecteting New Orleans East: The committee acknowledged the project's progress and the community engagement results. DPW will continue seeking funding for construction, with a phase one project potentially funded through the TIP by 2030. The committee encouraged the administration to pursue additional federal, state, and local dollars.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. I want to thank everyone for being here on time and for the benefit of the thousands who are watching, Councilmember Harris online. We're going to call this meeting to order. We actually now have a quorum. So I'll ask Anita for roll call. Roll call. Councilmember Green. Present. Councilmember Willard. Councilmember Harris, Councilmember King, Councilmember Hughes. We have three members. We have a quorum. We actually do have a quorum. We do have one voting item. However, we're going to. Oh, okay. And um I will move for approval of the minutes from the June 10th meeting, which was in your package earlier. Motion. Seconded. I moved and it's been seconded by Councilmember Harris. All in favor of approval of the minutes. Signify by saying aye. Aye. All three of three A's and no naive. We're going to go out of order a little bit. I want to thank everybody for coming. And um we're going to go out of order with just one issue because the ground transportation bureau has another obligation following this meeting. So we're going to move to item five. Before we come back to item three, I'm going to ask Mr. Steven Nelson, the Director of Public Works, and Alicia Creighton, Ground Transportation Bureau Administrator to come forward, representing the Department of Public Works. Thank you all very much for the flexibility and my apologies for the change in schedule for uh yourselves and everyone here. Uh we will try to be brief and succinct while answering as many questions as humanly possible. Please, of course, feel free to interrupt at any point during during this presentation. I am Steve Nelson, Director of Public Works, Deputy CAO for Infrastructure. Good morning. I'm Delicia Creighton, Ground Transportation Bureau Administrator. Good morning. I'm Yolanda Brownfield, Assistant Administrator, Ground Transportation Bureau. Thank you very much. And let's make sure I can drive the presentation. So what I wanted to talk through today is around Ground Transportation Bureau, what it is a little bit that we do, the personnel that we have involved, some of our needs, and ways that we're working to reduce some wait time. So there has been change around uh GTB this year. Prior to May, I believe, uh Ground Transportation Bureau, including parking enforcement, all was was all under the purview of the Department of Public Works. Since May, uh parking enforcement and towing has moved to NOPD, but the components of GTB, the CPNC reviews, approvals, and renewals remains with the Department of Public Works for the moment. Looking at some year-to-date activity, and I want to start with thanking uh the ladies to my right and the limited staff that they have. They do a yeoman's effort uh putting together reviews, inspections, approvals, uh, and managing this department, and they have done a lot of work, uh, many of them under furlough, uh, some of them recently off, but many of them under furlough for for the better part of the year. Thus far, year to date, uh, over 3,200 uh permits issued or renewed, over 2,000 driver and tour guide permits issued or renewed, uh, a handful of special events permits that have been issued, and then uh three to four thousand inspections that have been completed, as well as seventy-one tour guide tests taking place this year. Um with that said, my understanding is is we have essentially worked through most of the backlogs. So there should not be a significant delay in CPNC renewals at this time. If uh any of you receive questions, comments, or concerns about that, uh I would ask that uh anyone email GTB at NOLA.gov.
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