Live blog: RTA may hear proposal on ferry operations at Thursday’s meeting

Update: The board has released the proposed fare structure.

The Regional Transit Authority Board of Commissioners may make public a proposal regarding New Orleans-area ferry operations at its Thursday meeting, according to spokeswoman Patrice Bell Mercadel.

The Advocate has reported that the proposal includes a $2 passenger fare each way for the Algiers-Canal Street ferry and additional charges for vehicles on the Chalmette ferry.

The meeting starts at 2 p.m.; The Lens will live-blog it here.

On the agenda is an item for the board to schedule a public hearing on ferry fares.

Last week, The Lens reported that ferry supporters are vexed as to why fares haven’t already been instituted. Various studies have proposed fares, but first the Legislature had to authorize them.

The same bill that allowed the public to vote on whether to extend the Crescent City Connection tolls and privatize the ferry in 2012 also authorized the state to collect fares for the Algiers and Gretna ferries. A law passed in the 2013 legislative session, which authorized the RTA to take over the ferries, also allows for fares.

Live blog