A. OVERVIEW The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) seeks proposals from qualified firms for preliminary design, engineering, and environmental review services related to the development of the East-West Bank Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project, the first BRT line in the New Orleans metro area. The BRT route will serve as a critical cross-town route that will connect New Orleans East and the West Bank and will provide convenient service from these neighborhoods and others to the Central Business District (CBD). The Project builds upon the findings of the BRT East-West Bank Corridor Plan and follows the alignment identified in the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) as the optimal corridor for implementing BRT. The RTA envisions a premium BRT line that functions as a fixed-guideway service through bus priority lanes, signal prioritization, off-board fare collection, and modern station amenities that will significantly reduce travel times and improve rider comfort and access.
