The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority today awarded a contract to a new firm get a ferry up and running again between the Westbank and Downtown New Orleans.
The RTA Board of Commissioners approved a contract for the ferry maintenance and operations to Labmar Ferry Services.
RTA CEO Alex Z. Wiggins said, “Today, is an important milestone in the long journey to addressing ongoing issues with RTA ferry service."
Labmar could have boats in place by the end of this week under a contract provision allowing for charter service.
The contract will cost up to $6.3 million annually.
Ferry service has been down for several months amid mechanical issues with the boats and problems securing coast guard approval for new ferries that have been sitting docked.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said, “I want to commend the RTA leadership for acting swiftly to select Labmar Ferry Service, LLC, as the contractor to handle Ferry Service and Operations. We understand that our residents deserve high-quality and efficient day-to-day operations services for the public ferries that cross the Mississippi River and provide vital connections between New Orleans, Algiers and Chalmette. I also want to thank the RTA Evaluation Committee for doing the hard work to help get this right. We will continue to work together with RTA to improve service and prevent these issues from occurring in the future.”
Labmar will take over the Canal Street-Algiers Point and Chalmette ferries and provide staff to operate and maintain the ferry services.