We’re an AARP Community Challenge grantee!
Committee for a Better New Orleans is thrilled to announce we have been selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. We are one of only 343 grantees selected (out of 3,300+ applications!) from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
With this quick-action grant we will be able to bring our Better Bus Stops project to life, and ensure older adults needs and ideas are represented in the stop design and plans. Transit is a critical component of a livable community, and older adults need this vital community resource at a higher rate than other populations.
“We are incredibly proud that AARP selected CBNO for this investment to make New Orleans more livable for residents of all ages,” stated Nellie Catzen, Executive Director. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our area.”
About our Project
Committee for a Better New Orleans (CBNO) and our collaborating partners aim to redesign bus shelters across Orleans and parts of Jefferson Parishes. We will focus on enhancing the livability and accessibility of public transit, making it a more comfortable and viable option for all, especially for older residents, who comprise about 38% of the RTA's ridership.
Our stakeholder engagement and planning efforts are designed to ensure that the bus shelter redesign addresses practical aspects of weather protection and comfort while resonating with riders' specific desires and requirements. Incorporating their perspectives into the design process, we aim to create spaces that enhance safety, encourage community engagement, and improve overall accessibility to public services while delivering bus shelters that are functional, climate-resilient, and integral to fostering a sense of community and belonging among all transit riders.
Our project is not just about infrastructure improvement. It is a step towards building a more connected, resilient, and age-friendly urban environment. Through thoughtful design and community collaboration, we are dedicated to elevating the public transit experience, making it a preferred choice for mobility among older residents, and contributing to the broader vision of a livable, inclusive New Orleans.
About the AARP Community Challenge
The AARP Community Challenge grant program funds innovative, quick-action projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; digital connectivity; community resilience; and more. With additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.
This is all part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.
To learn more about the projects being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 343 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of current and past AARP Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work at aarp.org/livable.
