New Orleans — Opening Set

Rail Transit Online, May 2003  

Oct. 11 has been set as the opening date of the 3.1-mi. (5 km) Canal Street trolley line between the Mississippi River and the Cemeteries.  The one-mile (1.6 km) spur along North Carrollton Avenue is tentatively set for completion by the end of December.  However, with the $161-million project now 65 percent finished, the scheduled openings depend on a lack of construction delays caused by inclement weather or other problems.  Track installation is still underway at several locations along Canal Street and 11 of the 24 new replica heritage streetcars needed for the line have been assembled by RTA shop forces at the Carrollton car barn.  The trolleys will bear a resemblance to the original Perley Thomas streetcars still running on the St. Charles line but are equipped with air conditioning, modern propulsion gear, wheelchair lifts and are painted apple red instead of green.