Ozark Regional Transit Announces New Springdale Route

Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) is adding its second route in as many weeks to the overall Northwest Arkansas bus network.

Since May, ORT has been working with some of the larger employers in Springdale to provide public bus transportation — primarily to and from work — to their employees. 

Called “Workforce” routes, this demonstration program was funded by ORT until Friday, September 4, 2015.  The program was considered a success, and funding has been announced by George’s, Inc. to continue two of the four Workforce routes.

“Though these routes were designed to address the needs of the local employees, they are, as are all public transit routes, for everyone, and ORT has learned a lot from this program,” said Joel Gardner, executive director of ORT.  “We have been made more aware of the needs of the individuals living and working in Springdale.  We now need to determine how to effectively reach and educate individual groups within the community so they can understand the cost-effectiveness of public transportation.”

ORT will begin this process by reaching out to leaders in the Marshallese community by conducting a focus group with Marshall Islanders and members of the Gaps in Services to Marshallese Task Force on Sept. 17.  ORT is also considering travel-training sessions with small groups to show how public transit can be used for access to the workplace, shopping, medical and dental appointments and for visiting family and friends.

Gardner went on to say that they could use volunteers, bilingual for English and Marshallese or Spanish, to help get the message conveyed most effectively.

The two workforce routes that will be retained, will be combined to create one new permanent route for Springdale and is named Route 65.  Please see attached for route and schedule.  Like the original workforce routes, Route 65 is designed to facilitate travel to work -- primarily at the George’s, Inc. plants — in time for all shifts, and back to workers’ neighborhoods at the conclusion of their shifts.

Route 65 brings the number of routes in Springdale to a total of five, plus the Route 490 Express Route, which is shared among the four cities.