Loyola-Riverfront Streetcar Line

The Loyola-Riverfront Streetcar Line is a historic streetcar line in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Utilizing trackage from the Rampart–Loyola Streetcar Line, Canal Streetcar Line, and Riverfront Streetcar Line, it runs for a total length of 2.4 miles (3.9 km). The line is officially designated Route 49 and is denoted with a light blue color on most RTA publications.[1]

Loyola-Riverfront
Overview
OwnerNew Orleans Regional Transit Authority
Line number49
LocaleNew Orleans, Louisiana
Termini
Stations19
Service
TypeHeritage streetcar
SystemStreetcars in New Orleans
Depot(s)A. Philip Randolph Operations Facility
Rolling stock2000 Series Perley Thomas replica streetcars
History
Opened2021; 3 years ago (2021)
Technical
Line length2.4 mi (3.9 km)
Number of tracks2
CharacterExclusive right-of-way (Riverfront Line), neutral ground (Canal Street), and inside traffic lanes (Loyola Avenue)
Track gauge5 ft 2+12 in (1,588 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead line600 V DC
Route map

French Market  2 
Ursulines Street
Dumaine Street
Toulouse Street
Bienville Street
Canal Street
Route 2 to Convention Center (closed)  2 
Harrah's Casino
 47  48 
Peters Street
Magazine/Decatur
Camp/Chartres
St. Charles/Royal
Carondelet/Bourbon
 12 
Baronne/Dauphine
Rampart  46 
Poydras Street
Hyatt Regency
Julia Street
Union Passenger Terminal (UPT)
Amtrak Greyhound Lines  46 

History

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The line was created in 2021 when RTA, as a result of the Hardrock Hotel Collapse, combined the Loyola-UPT portion of the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line and part of the Riverfront Streetcar Line to create the UPT-Riverfront Line. It inherited the former route number of the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line. Following the reopening of the Rampart Streetcar Line, it was renamed Loyola-Riverfront Streetcar Line—numbered 49—while the Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line was renamed to the Rampart-Loyola Streetcar Line—renumbered 46.[2]

Route description

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The Loyola-Riverfront Streetcar Line begins at the French Market Stop near the intersection of Peters Street and Esplanade Avenue with access to the French Market and New Orleans Mint in the French Quarter. This portion of the line operates on a separated right of way as it utilizes the Riverfront Streetcar Line. It then turns right onto Canal Street, running in the neutral ground (the median strip). The route continues on Canal Street until it turns left onto Loyola Avenue, running on the inside traffic lanes, where it continues until terminating at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal.[3]

Stop listing

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From French Market to UPT

Stop Neighborhood(s) Other streetcar lines Notes
By way of the Riverfront Line
French Market French Quarter 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.
Toulouse Street French Quarter Serves Jax Brewery and Woldenberg Park.
Bienville Street French Quarter Serves Woldenberg Park.
Canal Street Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48 Connects with Canal Street Ferry Terminal.
Serves Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah's Casino, Woldenberg Park, and World Trade Center.
By way of Canal Street
Harrah's Casino Downtown, Central Business District 47 48 Serves Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah's Casino, Woldenberg Park, World Trade Center
Peters Street Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48 Serves Audubon Insectarium, Harrah's Casino and The Shops at Canal Place
Magazine/Decatur Streets Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48
Camp/Chartres Streets Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48
St. Charles Avenue/Royal Street Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48
Carondelet/Bourbon Streets Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 12 47 48 Transfer point to St. Charles Streetcar Line
Baronne/Dauphine Streets Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 47 48
Rampart Street Downtown, Central Business District, French Quarter 46 47 48 Transfer point to Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line and many RTA buses
By way of Loyola Avenue
Tulane Avenue Downtown, Central Business District, Biomedical District 46 Serves LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans Public Library, and Tulane Hospital
Loyola Avenue transitions from Elk Place
Poydras Street Downtown, Central Business District 46 Serves Champions Square, City Hall, Civil District Court, Duncan Plaza, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and Smoothie King Center
Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hotel Downtown, Central Business Street 46 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
Julia Street Downtown, Central Business District 46
Union Passenger Terminal (UPT) Downtown, Central Business District  46  Connects with Amtrak and Greyhound Lines

References

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  1. ^ https://www.norta.com/getmedia/5af0729a-d537-4ea3-8280-48dd7a72c05b/Streetcars_12,-46,-47,-48,-49.pdf
  2. ^ "New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - Service Schedules". www.norta.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "New Orleans Regional Transit Authority". New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved August 3, 2022.