BATON ROUGE, La. – LA Swift, the free bus service that transports displaced residents, workers and job-seekers between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, has been extended to June 30.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the state Department of Labor, the two agencies coordinating the service, received word today (Feb. 10) from Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

The extension was announced in the wake of newly expanded service, with additional stops in south Baton Rouge, Sorrento and LaPlace that began Sunday (Feb. 5). LA Swift also is now offering evening service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans and morning service from New Orleans to Baton Rouge to accommodate employees who work overnight shifts.

DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry applauded FEMA’s decision, saying, “Transportation remains a major problem for New Orleans area evacuees who depend on public transit. We are glad that LA Swift can continue to bridge the gap.”

Secretary of Labor John Warner Smith said, “Now workers can breathe a sigh of relief that they can keep jobs that have helped them and their families rebuild their lives.

“This news should help our efforts to get more people in the New Orleans workforce.”

LA Swift began making stops Sunday at the following new stops:

• The Home Depot parking lot, 18139 Highland Road in Baton Rouge near I-10.
• The Chevron Sorrento Super Shop, 7140 La. 22 near I-10.
• The LaPlace Texaco and Huddle House Restaurant, 4325 La. 51 near I-10.

LA Swift is not a park-and-ride service. Riders should arrange for other transportation to the stops.

LA Swift will continue offering express service between the Baton Rouge Capital Area Transit System (CATS) Florida Street terminal and the Elks Place stop on Canal Street in New Orleans. The new schedules are available online at www.laswift.com. Schedules and further details are also available through DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or toll-free at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683).

LA Swift has provided nearly 43,000 rides between Baton Rouge and New Orleans since its inaugural run on Oct. 31, 2005. The service is averaging more than 500 rides per weekday.

FEMA, which provides buses and drivers, first extended the service to Feb. 28 after a 14-day pilot program.

LA Swift is an initiative of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. It is coordinated by DOTD and the state Department of Labor in cooperation with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority and CATS.

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