LA Swift News

News

LA Swift extended through June of 2010

June 23, 2009 – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary William D. Ankner announced today that LA Swift will be extended through June 30, 2010. Service will continue to operate seven days a week, and the fare will remain $5 per one-way trip.

The extension of service will be completely funded with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds in the amount of $2.3 million through the end of the 2010 fiscal year.

“The FTA partnership has made this extension possible for another year,” Ankner said. "Many people still rely on LA Swift to get to work and back, so I'm happy DOTD can help keep those jobs intact.”

The LA Swift Service began on Oct. 31, 2005, as a post-Katrina recovery effort, providing transportation for workers and citizens between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Over the past three-and-a-half years, the service has been very successful, providing more than 615,000 passenger trips. DOTD has received numerous awards for LA Swift, including:

2006 Outstanding Service Award – presented at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Conference – June 7, 2006 – for outstanding emergency service to Louisiana citizens after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
2007 Transportation Excellence Award - presented at the 2007 Louisiana Transportation Engineering Conference – February 14, 2007 – for Special Achievement in Customer Service.
2009 Connecting Communities Award – presented at the Community Transportation Association of America Conference – June 2, 2009 – in recognition of the LA Swift service connecting communities by moving people.

Public Transit Riders Save $8,500 Annually

March 6 2009: According to the American Public Transportation Association, Public Transit riders save $8,500 annually. A new Economic Stimulus Law also provides up to $230 in transit benefit per month.

$5 ONE-WAY FARE RETURNS

Starting January 1, 2009 LA Swift will return to its original $5.00 one-way fare. One-week and two-week passes, which offer a savings of up to 12%, have also been reduced, to $45 and $88 respectively. Even though gas prices have dropped across the country, passengers are still encouraged to rely on public transportation to save thousands of dollars each year and reduce the wear and tear on their vehicle. LA Swift's premium coaches offer a clean, safe and comfortable environment, complete with TV's and wireless Internet.

Thank you for your continued support of LA Swift! We enjoy serving you. Together, we're keeping Louisiana on the move!

- The LA Swift Team