(from our weekly newsletter)
The 900s are running nicely on the Canal/Riverfront hybrid line, and RTA is moving forward on multiple fronts to repair the three streetcar lines. The feds have released $70 million to RTA, so work on Canal and Riverfront lines. In addition to repairing the 400- and 2000-series streetcars that were flooded while riding out the storm at Randolph, RTA needs to replace many of the rectifiers along the Canal line. These rectifiers are heavy electrical components that convert the AC power coming from Entergy power substations into the 600-vold DC power needed to operate the streetcars. With repairs to the streetcars estimated at close to $1 million per car, that $70 million is going to get used up fast.
The federal DoT is deferring RTAs matching contribution to that money for five years, and thats a good thing, since RTA ridership is only at 10%of where it was prior to the storm. RTA reports that the busiest lines since the storm are St. Charles (operating with buses), Magazine, Gen. deGaulle, Canal, and Tulane.The vintage 900-series streetcars wont roll on their home line on St. Charles Avenue until October of 2006 at the earliest. While the streetcars came through the storm fine, the lines overhead wiring as well as the electric substations that power the line received extensive damage. RTA already had $11 million in funds in the pipeline for repairs and upgrades to the St. Charles line, so that work will go forward in the first week of January.
