Earlier this week Rock Region METRO announced plans for system enhancements, focusing specifically on bus routes.
This is part of a fare review, the first since 2009, and could lead to a change in 14 of the current 26 lines.
The METRO staff has had to get creative to deliver the improvements passengers are requesting, due to the failure to pass the quarter-penny sales tax in March. Nevertheless, METRO’s executive director Jarod Varner keeps a positive outlook.
Varner said in a press release, “Obviously, we won’t be able to make the major changes our riders continue to request, such as system-wide extended operating hours and adding service miles that deviate farther out from existing routes. The good news, however, is that we were able to make several minor improvements we think our riders will appreciate, without the benefit of a dedicated source of funding.”
Varner continued to list the proposed improvements, which include route frequency, direct service to destinations and potentially interlining routes to diminish the need for bus transfers.
Since April METRO staff have been conducing the review process – taking comments from the public into consideration and utilizing a transit software to generate the suggested service enhancements.
The public can access this information in the coming months at various meetings which will be held across Central Arkansas.
“We’re excited to share this information we’re assembling,” said Varner. “It will give our community a more accurate snapshot of public transit use and potential for our area.”
Read more about the future of METRO, here.
METRO Annual Service Enhancements Public Information Meeting Dates and Times:
– Tuesday, July 19, 6-7:30 p.m., Little Rock Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Rd., Little Rock
– Wednesday, July 20, 6-7:30 p.m., Laman Library, Room 216, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock
– Monday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m., Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Dr., Maumelle
– Tuesday, July 26, 6-7:30 p.m., Bill Harmon Recreation Center, 51 Shelby Rd., Sherwood
–Wednesday, July 27, 6-7:30 p.m., Central Arkansas Library System Main Branch, 100 S. Rock St., Little Rock
Photo via Rock Region METRO