Transportation
Funding for transit comes from the Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD) filtered through from the FTA and St. James Government. St. James Parish is eligible for 5311 Rural Public Transportation funds, Job Access and Reverse Commute, and New Freedom along with 5309 discretionary funds. Funds available from the Section 5311 Rural Public Transit program are dedicated to public transportation projects which serve people living in nonurbanized areas of the state.
Public transportation services which are provided with Section 5311 funds must be available to the general public a minimum of ten hours daily Monday-Friday on a regular and continuing basis. All vehicles operated by the applicant for which Section 5311 reimbursement is requested must remain open to the general public at all times and be clearly marked for public use.
St. James Parish is one of the few rural areas in the nation with a regularly scheduled in-parish transportation system. Any general public person, parish resident, or non parish resident can ride for free. With a one day advance notice, River Parish Transit Authority (RPTA) offers transportation to the river parishes, St. John, and St. Charles for medical and employment purposes.
Operations
St. James Parish Transit operates routes daily, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., along state Highways 44 and 18 (East and West bank) with side trips on connecting streets, including major streets in the towns of Lutcher and Gramercy. Requested route deviation is also available.
Additional Programs
- Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) provides transportation for residents to jobs, educational institutions or job skills training programs.
- New Freedom Program assists individuals with disabilities with free transportation to and from jobs and employment support services.
For more information about state funded transportation programs, visit the Louisiana Department of Transportation website.