BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Sherri H. LeBas announced that LA Swift, the service that provides coach bus rides between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, has been extended through June 30, 2012 thanks to a $2.3 million grant awarded to DOTD by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The extension of service will be funded with a combination of the FTA funding and a $5 charge per one-way trip.

"LA Swift provides a safe, comfortable and economical travel experience for people who commute between our state’s two largest cities," LeBas said. "We are pleased we have been able to partner with FTA to offer this valuable service for another year."

The LA Swift Service began on Oct. 31, 2005, as a post-Katrina recovery effort, providing transportation for workers and citizens between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. In the years since, the service has been very successful, providing more than 848,000 passenger trips. The service averages more than 10,500 riders per month.

The service offers several stops in Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Kenner, LaPlace, New Orleans and Sorrento.

DOTD has received numerous awards for LA Swift, including:

• 2009 Connecting Communities Award – presented at the Community Transportation Association of America Conference – June 2, 2009 – in recognition of the LA Swift service connecting communities by moving people.
  
• 2007 Transportation Excellence Award – presented at the 2007 Louisiana Transportation Engineering Conference – February 14, 2007 – for Special Achievement in Customer Service.
  
• 2006 Outstanding Service Award – presented at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Conference – June 7, 2006 – for outstanding emergency service to Louisiana citizens after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For more information visit the LA Swift Web site at www.laswift.com or call 1-877-94-SWIFT (1-877-947-9438).

DOTD is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).