Aug 7, 2026 - Transit

Last chance call for New Orleans youth to get free RTA passes

Chelsea Brasted

A person climbs aboard a New Orleans public bus on the Canal Street route. Others sit nearby on benches. — The Opportunity Pass pilot program is due to sunset in September. Photo: Sophia Germer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Young people in New Orleans have only days left to sign up for free RTA rides.

Why it matters: The Opportunity Pass program has had "overwhelming demand," a press release says, prompting organizers to discontinue sign-ups after Aug. 14.

How it works: The pilot program, which launched in September 2024, allows New Orleanians aged 16–24 to secure free RTA passes by signing up at any New Orleans Public Library.

The free passes will expire when program funding ends, though it's not yet clear exactly when that will be.

What we're watching: The program was launched as a pilot and paid for with one-time federal funds.

Local transit nonprofit RIDE "is committed to collaborating with city leaders and potential funders to explore opportunities to sustain youth access to transit beyond the pilot," a press release says.

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Last chance call for New Orleans youth to get free RTA passes

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