REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE MARY E. PETERS
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
CANAL STREET LINE STREETCARS
NEW ORLEANS, LA
DECEMBER 12, 2008
11:30 AM
Thank you, NORTA General Manager Mark Major, for that kind introduction.
It is great to be here with you, Mayor Nagin, Chairman Burgos, and so many
others to celebrate another major milestone in the Crescent City’s recovery from
Hurricane Katrina – the return of the red streetcars to the Canal Street Line.
President Bush pledged that the streetcars would rumble again through this great
city. And while all three lines have been back in service for a while, the
absence of the trademark red cars from the Canal Street Line has been a
lingering reminder of Katrina’s toll.
The return of the red streetcars makes this is a red letter day for New Orleans,
and on behalf of President Bush, let me say, congratulations!
I just love the way Canal Street is all decked out to welcome the streetcars
back. These red cars are an early Christmas present for the people of New
Orleans and for all of the tourists who will visit this charming city throughout
the holiday season and during Mardi Gras.
A lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance, and a lot of skill went into bringing
back this priceless piece of American culture.
Earlier, Wil Mullet gave me a tour of the car. I also had the opportunity to
visit with some of the craftsmen who have spent years restoring these
streetcars. Clearly, this project has been a labor of love.
The Canal Street Line and the red cars that ride its rails are very special to
the U.S. Department of Transportation as well. Through a $129 million grant, we
helped New Orleans bring the streetcars back to this historic line in 2004,
after 40 years as a bus route.
We have worked with NORTA to help restore the line after Katrina, along with
FEMA, which provided $27 million for the streetcar repairs.
In the case of New Orleans’ streetcars, seeing red is truly a cause for
celebration. But the return of the red streetcars is just one of many steps in
the ongoing recovery process.
All told, the U.S. Department of Transportation has provided $3.4 billion to
help the Gulf Coast recover from the battering it took from Hurricanes Katrina,
Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and another $182 million dollars this year to rebuild
transportation systems damaged by Gustav and Ike.
Indeed, I am very proud of the role the U.S. Department of Transportation has
played over the last eight years in helping communities like New Orleans recover
when disaster strikes. We understand that people have to be able to move again
in order to move forward. That is the first step in helping people get their
lives back to normal.
So whether it is clearing roads and runways, or restoring ports and pipelines,
from day one we have made it a top priority to speed relief and get vital
transportation systems working.
These streetcars are a sign that the Crescent City is headed toward a brighter
and stronger future.
Thank you again for allowing me to be part of this very special day. The red
streetcars are back on track, and so is the City of New Orleans.
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Briefing
Room
