Transportation
New Orleans needs increased funding for public transportation to support our residents. Roughly 20% of New Orleanians don’t own a car and the unreliable transit system puts enormous strain on hard-working people. Jackson supports building the Bus Rapid Transit line (BRT) to link the East, Downtown, and Algiers with continuous, reliable service. He also supports mandates that all bus services to run on minimum 30-minute headways. Major employers must have frequent service to support their employees.
Canal Street - Algiers Ferry
Jackson supports expanding ferry service and creating a dedicated funding source for the Algiers-Canal Street Ferry. He proposes creating a cruise ship boarding fee to pay for ferry service and increased transit to Algiers.The ferry is a vital transit link for Algiers and must be preserved to support residents and service industry workers.
Bus Rapid Transit
New Orleans is the only major city without a high speed and frequent transit service. Jackson supports constructing the proposed Bus Rapid Transit line (BRT) to connect Algiers, the CBD, and New Orleans East. Over 20% of residents don't own a car and need a quick and inexpensive way to get to work. BRT is a cost effective way to get more riders around the city without investing in expensive infrastructure.
Cycling
Jackson supports expanding the city’s cycling lane network and creating all protected bike lanes throughout the city. New Orleans has the highest cyclist death rate per capita in the nation. Jackson is a cyclist and wants to encourage alternative transportation whenever possible. He wants to create a ebike voucher program to encourage cycling. He supports direct funding from the city for the expansion of the Blue Bike program.
Amtrak Service Expansion
Amtrak recently expanded service to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Mobile. Jackson supports extending the line to Baton Rouge to create a comprehensive transit mode to link the entire region. Also, he supports expanding frequency to daily service to Houston and funding a new line to connect New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Shreveport, and Dallas.