Transit

Connect Northwest Arkansas

Connect Northwest Arkansas is a 10-Year Transit Development Plan (TDP) that created a “Blueprint” for improving and expanding transit in the Northwest Arkansas region. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC), Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) and Razorback Transit (RT) are committed to ensure this plan connects NW Arkansas at the regional and local level and that a robust public engagement process is used to inform the plan.

Project Vision

State of Transit
Find out more about the current transit service available in the region here: Ozark Regional Transit and Razorback Transit.

Guided by a technical analysis and a robust public engagement and education process, Connect Northwest Arkansas determined the following:

How can we move and connect people at a regional and local level?
What effective transit looks like and how it will benefit the entire region?
Ultimately, what transit should look like over the next 10 years?

Project Process
Below is an overview the Connect Northwest Arkansas process that will help shape the future of what transit will be in the region.

For more information, please check out the Connect Northwest Arkansas Factsheet.

The Connect Northwest Arkansas Plan can be viewed here: Connect NWA Plan

The Executive Summary of the plan is available here.

This link provides the final presentation of the project and key findings.

Public Involvement
Public input concerning the region’s transit needs and wants was a critical component to Connect Northwest Arkansas. Whether you take the bus, ride a bike, use a mobility device or drive a car, we used your input to help develop transit recommendations for the region. Your insights will directly shape the future of transit in Northwest Arkansas!

Connect Northwest Arkansas project team would like to thank the community for all the input that directly informed and shaped the recommendation of the project. Below is an info-graphic showing the summary results from 1,299 completed surveys (click graph to open).

Plan Adoption
On October 28, 2020 NWA RPC/Policy Committee through Resolution 2020-06 adopted Connect Northwest Arkansas, a 10-year Transit Development Plan, to serve as a “blueprint” for improving and expanding fixed route transit in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR urbanized area.

Project Partners
The following were part of the Connect NWA Steering Committee:

Adam Waddell (University of Arkansas Razorback Transit)
Cindy Acree (Elizabeth Richardson Center)
Don Marr (Fayetteville/ORT Board)
Gary Smith (University of Arkansas Razorback Transit)
Jeremy Pate (Walton Family Foundation)
Joel Gardner (Ozark Regional Transit)
John McCurdy (Rogers)
Kevin Beaumont (McClelland Engineers)
Larry Kelly (Larry Kelly Assoc. Realty)
Patsy Christie (Springdale)
Rob Smith (Northwest Arkansas Council)
Shelli Kerr (Bentonville)
Tim Conklin (Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission)

Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission
Ozark Regional Transit
University of Arkansas Razorback Transit