Transit Challenges and Opportunities - Innsbruck - New Orleans Exchange

Center Austria Director Marc Landry and conference participants.
Photo: Center Austria/ Landry

On My 19, 2025, a practitioner panel & dialogues on transit challenges and opportunities in Innsbruck and New Orleans took place as a virtual conference. This exchange highlighted shared challenges in funding, electrification, ridership recovery, and community engagement—while emphasizing the importance of integrated, future-ready transit solutions.

Participants:

Innsbruck: Markus Mailer (UIBK), Ekkehard Allinger-Csollich (IVB), Lucia Fuchs (City of Innsbruck), Peter Brandl (UIBK, Bracon), Rumana Sarker (UIBK, Monash University)

New Orleans: Marc Landry (UNO), Chad Riding (Caltrans), Matt Rufo (City of New Orleans), Rosine Pema Sanga (City of New Orleans), Dwight Norton (RTA), Ryan Moser (RTA), Rafe Rabalais (RTA), Laura Harris (Bike Easy), Gertraud Griessner (Center Austria, UNO), Tara Tolford (UNO), Nick Tabakins (Caltrans), Serena Hoermann (FAU)

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Theme 1: Current Transit Challenges & Needs

• New Orleans (Dwight Norton, RTA):

  • Ridership remains below pre-COVID levels.

  • Mismatch between transit users and voters hinders funding.

  • Strategy: Route redesign, enhanced amenities (e.g., weather-protected shelters), and advocacy partnerships.

  • Research Questions: How to reverse declining ridership? What investments drive value in safety and accessibility

• Innsbruck (Ekkehard Allinger-Csollich, IVB):

  • Alpine terrain and outdated depots complicate operations and electrification.

  • Facing vehicle shortages and decarbonization challenges.

  • Strategy: Trolleybus expansion and infrastructure upgrades.

  • Research Needs: Cost-benefit analysis of streetcars and resource optimization.

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Theme 2: Investment & Spending Priorities

• RTA (New Orleans):

  • $600M five-year plan includes BRT routes, solar-powered infrastructure, and upgraded streetcars.

  • Aims to improve access to jobs, passenger comfort, and environmental performance.

• IVB (Innsbruck):

  • Key projects: €67M new streetcar line and track, €200M depot for electric buses.

  • Struggles with low fare revenues (due to discounts for students/seniors).

  • Trolleybus pilot: €26M for two vehicles by 2028.

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Theme 3: Vehicle Electrification & Resilience

• Peter Brandl (UIBK/Bracon):

  • Targeting 65% electrified fleet by 2030.

  • Challenges include infrastructure costs, urban design integration, and charging logistics.

• Ryan Moser (RTA):

  • Managing a historic fleet while planning for electric vehicles.

  • Post-hurricane resilience: mixed energy sources (CNG, opportunity chargers).

  • Supply chain delays slowing vehicle procurement.

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Theme 4: BRT & Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

• Peter Brandl:

  • BRT is cost-effective but politically sensitive due to lane reallocations.

  • Streetcars offer a less contentious alternative with dedicated tracks.

• Lucia Fuchs (Innsbruck):

  • Advancing car-free neighborhoods and diverse mobility hubs to promote walkability.

  • Rafe Rabalais (RTA):

  • Assessing funding strategies and land use for TOD and BRT feasibility.

• Matt Rufo (New Orleans):

  • Investing in emissions reduction, biking infrastructure, and safety (Vision Zero by 2040).

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Key Follow-up Questions:

• How can public perceptions of transit be improved?

• What are sustainable strategies for balancing affordability with quality?

• How can transit become more competitive with personal vehicles?