AR: ORT to Run Demonstration Route in Bentonville

July 24, 2014
In an ongoing effort to meet the public transit needs of the northwest Arkansas area, Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) will be running a Demonstration Route in the downtown Bentonville area on July 24 and July 25.

In an ongoing effort to meet the public transit needs of the northwest Arkansas area, Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) will be running a Demonstration Route in the downtown Bentonville area on July 24 and July 25.

The route will run from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. both Thursday and Friday, and will connect businesses in Bentonville’s highest traffic area adjacent to Walton Blvd., to the downtown historic and art districts.

Landmarks along the route include Bentonville Square, Bentonville Public Library and Crystal Bridges, with a transfer point to Route 11 at the library.  The entire ORT route system, is therefore connected to this temporary route.

“The intention is to provide needed transit for the business person as well as the tourist,”, commented Joel Gardner, executive director of ORT.  “therefore, a trolley-type bus has been acquired, and is on loan from its manufacturer, for the route.”

Time trials have been ongoing for the past several days in the area and a tentative schedule is in place.  Copies will be made available at the Bentonville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Wal-Mart Museum and Crystal Bridges; and is attached herewith.

The two-day Demonstration Route is intended to gather feedback from passengers that could be incorporated into a finalized and permanent route in the future.  The fare is free for Thursday and Friday and everyone in NW Arkansas is invited to ride, enjoy and comment.