Can I get help affording a car?

Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.

What is Medicaid NEMT?

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).

Are there reduced-fare transit options?

Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.

What if I live in a rural area with no bus?

Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.

Transportation in Louisiana

13 verified resources.

About Transportation for Fathers

Transportation assistance helps fathers get to work, court, medical appointments, and childcare. Public transit passes are often available free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and social service agencies. Many job training programs cover bus passes. The Ways to Work program and some community action agencies provide low-interest car loans to working parents. State DMVs typically require proof of insurance and current registration; low-cost insurance programs exist for low-income drivers in several states (California's Low Cost Auto Insurance is one example). For rural fathers without reliable transit, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs are coordinated through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. Medicaid NEMT covers rides to covered medical visits at no cost. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance programs.

Transportation in Louisiana

Louisiana is the only US state based on civil law (Napoleonic Code) rather than common law. Family matters are heard in district courts, with most parishes having dedicated family sections. The Department of Children and Family Services Child Support Enforcement Services handles enforcement. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette are the major cities. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provide civil legal aid.

13 Resources

1. CATS – Capital Area Transit System — Paid

Public bus service serving the Baton Rouge area with fixed routes across the capital region. Useful for fathers without reliable transportation needing to reach work, childcare, school, or court. Call 225-389-8920 or visit 350 N Donmoor Avenue for route maps, passes, and customer service. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors, youth, and disabled riders. Operates Monday-Saturday from 5:15am to 10pm.

225-389-8920 · 350 N Donmoor Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 · Mon-Sat 5:15am-10pm

2. SporTran – Shreveport Transit — Paid

Public bus service in the Shreveport-Bossier City area with fixed routes across Caddo and Bossier parishes. Useful for fathers without reliable transportation needing to reach work, childcare, school, or appointments. Call 318-673-7400 or visit 1115 Jack Wells Boulevard for route information and passes. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors, youth, and disabled riders. Visit sportran.org for schedules and mobile ticketing.

318-673-7400 · 1115 Jack Wells Blvd, Shreveport, LA 71101 · Mon-Sat 5:30am-9pm · Visit Website

3. Lafayette Transit System — Paid

Public bus service in the Lafayette area with fixed routes across the city and immediate surrounding areas. Useful for fathers without reliable transportation needing to reach work, childcare, school, or appointments. Call 337-291-8570 or visit 100 Lee Avenue for route information and passes. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors, youth, and disabled riders. Operates Monday-Saturday from 6am to 7pm across routes.

337-291-8570 · 100 Lee Ave, Lafayette, LA 70501 · Mon-Sat 6am-7pm · Visit Website

4. Louisiana DOTD – Public Transit — Free

State Department of Transportation and Development division administering rural and small urban transit programs across Louisiana parishes. Oversees funding and coordination for parish-level transit providers serving fathers without personal transportation. Call 225-379-1200 or visit 1201 Capitol Access Road in Baton Rouge weekdays. Useful for fathers in rural parishes to find their local transit provider through the DOTD multimodal division website and resources.

225-379-1200 · 1201 Capitol Access Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Lake Charles Transit — Paid

Public transit service in the Lake Charles area offering fixed routes across the city. Useful for fathers without reliable transportation needing to reach work, childcare, school, or appointments. Call 337-491-1290 or visit 326 Pujo Street for route information and passes. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors, youth, and disabled riders. Operates Monday-Saturday from 6am to 6pm across scheduled routes throughout southwest Louisiana.

337-491-1290 · 326 Pujo St, Lake Charles, LA 70601 · Mon-Sat 6am-6pm · Visit Website

6. Jefferson Transit – JeT — Paid

Public bus service connecting Jefferson Parish communities including Metairie, Kenner, and Gretna across the greater New Orleans area. Useful for fathers without reliable transportation needing to reach work, childcare, or appointments. Call 504-818-1077 or visit 4901 Jefferson Highway for route information and passes. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors, youth, and disabled riders. Operates Monday-Saturday across the parish network.

504-818-1077 · 4901 Jefferson Hwy, Jefferson, LA 70121 · Mon-Sat 5:30am-9pm · Visit Website

7. St. Tammany Parish Transit – STAR Transit — Paid

Demand-response public transit serving St. Tammany Parish on the Northshore with advance-reservation curb-to-curb service. Useful for Northshore fathers without reliable transportation needing rides to work, medical appointments, or childcare. Call 985-898-1950 or visit 21490 Koop Drive in Mandeville weekdays to reserve rides. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors and disabled riders. Advance reservation required; check current policies for service area and hours.

985-898-1950 · 21490 Koop Dr, Mandeville, LA 70471 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm · Visit Website

8. Rapides Area Planning Commission Transit — Paid

Rural public transit serving the Alexandria and central Louisiana area with scheduled and demand-response service. Useful for fathers in rural central parishes without reliable transportation. Call 318-487-5380 or visit 1675 3rd Street in Alexandria weekdays for route and reservation information. Fares are low with reduced options for seniors and disabled riders. Useful resource for Rapides and surrounding rural parish fathers needing rides to work, school, or appointments.

318-487-5380 · 1675 3rd St, Alexandria, LA 71301 · Mon-Fri 6am-6pm · Visit Website

9. Amtrak – Crescent & Sunset Limited — Paid

Passenger rail service connecting New Orleans to major U.S. cities via the Crescent (to Atlanta and New York) and Sunset Limited (to Los Angeles) routes. Useful for fathers needing affordable long-distance travel for family visits, court appearances, or business. Call 800-872-7245 or book at amtrak.com. New Orleans station at 1001 Loyola Avenue. Advance reservations recommended for best fares and sleeper accommodations.

800-872-7245 · 1001 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 · Daily schedule

10. Greyhound – Louisiana Stations — Paid

Intercity bus service connecting Louisiana cities and providing long-distance travel to destinations across the country. Useful for fathers needing affordable travel between cities for work, family visits, or court appearances. Call 800-231-2222 or book at greyhound.com. Main New Orleans station at 1001 Loyola Avenue. Fares vary by destination and advance booking; check current schedules online for stations in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and other Louisiana cities.

800-231-2222 · 1001 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 · Daily schedule · Visit Website

11. Capital Area Transit System – Paratransit — Paid

Door-to-door paratransit service for fathers and individuals with disabilities in the Baton Rouge area unable to use fixed-route buses. Advance reservation and ADA eligibility determination required. Call 225-389-8920 or visit 350 N Donmoor Avenue weekdays to apply and reserve rides. Fares are low with reduced options. Useful accessibility service for fathers with disabilities needing reliable rides to work, medical appointments, or family obligations.

225-389-8920 · 350 N Donmoor Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 · Mon-Sat by appointment

12. RTA Paratransit – New Orleans — Paid

Accessible door-to-door paratransit service for New Orleans area fathers and individuals with disabilities unable to use fixed-route RTA buses or streetcars. ADA eligibility and advance reservation required. Call 504-827-7433 or visit 2817 Canal Street weekdays to apply and reserve rides. Fares are low with reduced options. Useful accessibility service for fathers with disabilities needing reliable rides to medical, work, or family obligations.

504-827-7433 · 2817 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119 · Daily by appointment · Visit Website

13. Council on Aging – Transportation Services — Free

Free or low-cost rides for seniors to medical appointments, errands, and senior center programs through the Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs and parish councils on aging. Useful for fathers caring for elderly parents needing reliable transportation to doctor visits and pharmacies. Call 225-342-7100 or visit 525 Florida Street in Baton Rouge weekdays. Services vary by parish; contact your local council on aging for specific eligibility.

225-342-7100 · 525 Florida St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 · Mon-Fri by appointment · Visit Website

Transportation — Common Questions

Can I get help affording a car?: Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.
What is Medicaid NEMT?: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).
Are there reduced-fare transit options?: Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.
What if I live in a rural area with no bus?: Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.