Loyola-UPT Streetcar Line
| Loyola-UPT Streetcar line | |
|---|---|
Mayor Mitch Landrieu with the St. Augustine Purple Knights Marching Band at opening celebrations for the new Loyola Avenue streetcar line on January 28, 2013.
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| Overview | |
| Type | Heritage streetcar |
| System | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Termini | UPT foot of Canal Street (weekdays) French Market (weekends) |
| Services | Route 49 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | January 28, 2013 |
| Owner | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority |
| Operator(s) | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority |
| Character | Runs in neutral ground (central median) along Canal Street, in traffic lanes next to the neutral ground on Loyola Avenue and Elk Place |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) (total) |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) |
| Electrification | Trolley wire |
The Loyola-UPT Streetcar line is a historic streetcar line in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). It is the newest streetcar line in the system, as it opened on January 28, 2013, with the total length of the line being 1.6 mi (2.6 km).[1] It was originally called the Loyola Avenue Streetcar line before altering to its current name. Construction started in August 2011, and the line was opened in time for New Orleans' hosting of Super Bowl XLVII.[2][3] The line is officially designated Route 49 and is denoted with a gold color on most RTA publications.
Route description
The Loyola-UPT line begins at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (UPT) where it connects with RTA bus routes, Amtrak, and Greyhound Lines. From there, it runs for 0.8 mi (1.3 km) on Loyola Avenue in the New Orleans Central Business District to Canal Street. With the exception of only two blocks, this portion of the line does not operate on neutral ground, but rather on the inside traffic lanes. It is also unique in New Orleans in that the streetcar stops are built to light rail system standards as opposed to typical streetcar stops that utilize a simple concrete platform sometimes with a bench and/or a canopy.
The route continues on Canal Street to Harrah's at the Mississippi River, and on weekends, it continues further down the Riverfront tracks to the French Market terminal at Esplanade Avenue. The line operates the same type of Von Dullen cars as the Canal Street line. It features solar powered passenger shelters along Loyola Avenue.[4][5][6]
Operation
The Loyola-UPT line operates between approximately 6 a.m. and midnight, with frequencies ranging from 20 minutes on weekdays to 30 minutes on the weekends and every night.
Stop listing
From French Quarter to UPT
| Stop | Neighborhood(s) | Other streetcar lines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Riverfront tracks (weekends only) | |||
| French Market | French Quarter | Northern terminus of Riverfront and Loyola-UPT (weekend) lines. Near the intersection of Peters Street and Esplanade Avenue. Serves French Market and New Orleans Mint. |
|
| Ursulines Street | French Quarter | Serves French Market. | |
| Dumaine Street | French Quarter | Serves Jackson Square, Preservation Hall, St. Louis Cathedral and Woldenberg Park. | |
| Touluose Street | French Quarter | Serves Jax Brewery and Woldenberg Park. | |
| Bienville Street | French Quarter | Serves Woldenberg Park. | |
| Canal Street | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | Terminus of Loyola-UPT line on weekdays. Connects with Riverfront Streetcar line, Algiers Point-Canal Street Ferry, and Gretna Ferry. Serves Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah's Casino, IMAX Theater, Spanish Plaza, Woldenberg Park, and World Trade Center. |
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| By way of Canal Street | |||
| Harrah's Casino | Downtown, Central Business District | Connects with Canal Streetcar Line. Inbound stop location is at Convention Center Boulevard; the outbound stop is half a block west. Serves Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah's Casino, IMAX Theater, Woldenberg Park, World Trade Center. |
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| Peters Street | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | Serves Audubon Insectarium, Harrah's Casino, and The Shops at Canal Place. | |
| Magazine/Decatur Streets | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | ||
| Camp/Chartres Streets | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | ||
| St. Charles Avenue/Royal Street | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | ||
| Carondelet/Bourbon Streets | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | Transfer connection to St. Charles Streetcar Line. | |
| Baronne/Dauphine Streets | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | ||
| Rampart Street | Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter | Major transfer point to Canal Streetcar line and many RTA buses serving downtown. Within walking distance of the Treme neighborhood and Louis Armstrong Park. |
|
| By way of Elk Place from Canal to Tulane, then Loyola Avenue to UPT | |||
| Tulane Avenue | Downtown, Central Business District, Biomedical District | Serves LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans Public Library, and Tulane Hospital. Loyola Avenue transitions from Elk Place. |
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| Poydras Street | Downtown, Central Business District | Serves Champions Square, City Hall, Civil District Court, Duncan Plaza, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and Smoothie King Center. | |
| Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hotel (inbound only) | Downtown, Central Business Street | Serves Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hotel. Stop located near Girod Street in the Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza. Linked by walkway leading from South Rampart and Lafayette Streets. |
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| Julia Street | Downtown, Central Business District | ||
| Union Passenger Terminal (UPT) | Downtown, Central Business District | Connects with RTA buses, Amtrak, and Greyhound Lines. | |
References
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