NEW ORLEANS — A week after a New Orleans family won a federal disability discrimination lawsuit against the Regional Transit Authority, Congressman Troy Carter took to social media to announce that the federal government is giving the RTA more than $5 million to make the St. Charles streetcar line compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The $5,492,524 comes as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021.
"This is vital to make public transportation accessible to everyone," Carter posted on X (formerly Twitter). "I’m proud to have championed the #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw which made this possible. Promises made, promises kept!"
Former Louisiana Lt. Governor (2004-10) and New Orleans mayor (2010-18) Mitch Landrieu also took to X to credit the Biden Administration for the funding.
"These funds are from President Biden’s Infrastructure Act. Rebuilding America," posted Landrieu, who currently serves as a senior advisor responsible for the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
On Monday, Louisiana's David Hammer reported that 8-year-old Oscar Edmunds, who uses a wheelchair, was awarded expanded access along the St. Charles line.
Only a few of those older carriages, which are easily identified by their green color, are ADA-accessible compared to the entire fleet of red carriages used on the Canal Street, Rampart and Riverfront routes.
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