By Streetcar in New Orleans

• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

By Streetcar

The riverfront streetcar covers a 2-mi route along the Mississippi River, connecting major sights from the end of the French Quarter (Esplanade Avenue) to the New Orleans Convention Center (Julia Street). Nine stops en route include the French Market, Jackson Brewery, Canal Place, the World Trade Center, the Riverwalk, and the Hilton Hotel. This streetcar operates 7 AM until 10:30 PM, passing each stop every 30 minutes. The historic streetcars that formerly ran on the St. Charles Avenue line now run on the riverfront and Canal Street lines. Some of these are wheelchair accessible. Due to extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina, the St. Charles Avenue streetcar will not be back in operation until the end of 2007. A third streetcar line runs along Canal Street several blocks from the river to City Park and passes every 12 minutes.

Fares & Schedules

No fares are currently being taken until June 30, 2006. Pending FEMA funding this fare-free period may last longer. When fares return, they will go back to the same system. One-way fare is $1.25 (exact change); one-day and three-day visitor passes are available at $5 and $12, respectively, for unlimited rides on both the Canal Street and riverfront streetcar lines. Visitor passes apply to buses as well as streetcars. The one-day pass is available from streetcar operators. For information on other visitor passes and schedules, check information centers at hotels and retail centers or call the RTA.

Streetcar Information

RTA (504/248-3900; 504/242-2600 automated information. www.norta.com).