Founded | 1986 [1] |
---|---|
Headquarters | 901 Maple Street |
Locale | North Little Rock, Arkansas |
Service area | Little Rock Metro Area |
Service type | Fixed Route Paratransit Streetcar |
Routes | 21 Fixed Bus Routes 4 Express Bus Routes 2 Streetcar Lines |
Stops | 1,455 (Bus) 15 (Rail) |
Destinations | College Station Hensley Jacksonville Little Rock Maumelle Natural Steps North Little Rock Roland Sherwood Sweet Home Woodson Wrightsville |
Hubs | River Cities Travel Center (Little Rock) |
Fleet | 59 Buses 24 Paratransit Vans 5 Streetcars |
Daily ridership | 5,908 (2022) [2] |
Annual ridership | 1,750,545 (2022) [2] |
Fuel type | Diesel, Electric |
Website | rrmetro.org |
Rock Region Metropolitan Transit Authority (also known as Rock Region Metro, stylized as Rock Region METRO), is the largest transit agency in Arkansas. It was formerly known as the Central Arkansas Transit Authority. Rock Region Metro provides public transportation services within Pulaski County, Arkansas, seven days a week.
The system has 25 bus routes, including four express commuter routes. A demand response ADA paratransit service, known as LINKS, operates alongside the fixed route hours and coverage area. A heritage streetcar system, known as the Metro Streetcar, operates 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of track throughout the downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,315,600, or about 6,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
Prior to the creation of the former Central Arkansas Transit Authority, the transit system was owned and operated by private companies. Until 1950, the transit system was owned by Arkansas Power & Light (AP&L), the predecessor to Entergy Arkansas. In 1950, AP&L sold the transit system, then known as Capital Transportation Company (CTC), to a group of local investors. A strike by the transit union, Amalgamated Transit Union Division 704, in 1955-1956 left the company with a damaged reputation and exacerbated existing financial problems.
The governments of Little Rock and North Little Rock awarded the franchise to a new company, Citizens' Coach Company (CCC), on February 28, 1956. Although the new company was backed by a group of local unions, the same financial problems that CTC encountered led to the demise of CCC by 1962. The declining passenger revenue and rising wages left few resources to maintain the bus fleet.
Following the takeover of the transit system by Twin City Transit (TCT) on September 25, 1962, the federal government began offering funds to struggling transit systems through various assistance programs. This funding assisted TCT with purchasing new buses, and TCT experienced some financial success. But the increase in passenger revenue was temporary, as TCT could not keep up with offering service in the expanding cities without continuing to receive fare increases. A 1971 study recommended that the transit system shift to public ownership under the direction of a regional authority.
Central Arkansas Transit commenced operations under the trusteeship of the metropolitan planning organization Metroplan on May 1, 1972. As a regional planning entity, Metroplan lacked the resources to supervise a transit operation indefinitely. Local government partners were being asked to infuse more money into the operation, and wanted more of a direct say than the 1972 agreement granted. On July 14, 1986, CATA was chartered when the government of Pulaski County and the city governments of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Cammack Village, Maumelle, Sherwood, and Jacksonville entered into an interlocal agreement that established CATA as a public corporation. [3] (Cammack Village eventually ceased participation in CATA, eliminating funds beginning with its 2006 budget. [4] ) On August 12, 2015, the Central Arkansas Transit Authority was officially rebranded as Rock Region Metro. [5]
#1 | Pulaski Heights | #10 | McCain Mall | #19 | Hensley Express |
#2 | South Main | #11 | Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Drive | #20 | Hanger Hill/College Station |
#3 | Baptist Medical Center | #12 | Clinton Center/Airport | #21 | Riverdale |
#4 | Levy/Amboy | #13 | Pulaski Tech | #22 | University/Mabelvale |
#5 | West Markham | #14 | Rosedale | #23 | Baseline/Southwest |
#6 | Granite Mountain | #16 | UALR | #25 | Pinnacle Mountain Express |
#7 | Shorter College | #17 | Mabelvale-Downtown | #26 | Maumelle/Oak Grove Express |
#8 | Rodney Parham | #18 | McAlmont | #36 | Jacksonville/Sherwood Express |
#9 | West Central/Barrow Road |
Metro Streetcar began operation in November 2004, as the River Rail Streetcar. (It was given its current name in 2015.) Operating 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of track in Little Rock and across the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, the streetcar system caters to visitors, tourists, and local downtown residents. CATA conducted its River Rail Economic Enhancement Study [6] in late 2012, noting resulting improvements in four areas: significant capital investment along the streetcar line, increased sales and property tax revenue, increased population of downtown neighborhood residents, and increased visitor volume and tourism for the streetcar and local attractions.
River Cities Travel Center (RCTC) opened on August 28, 2000, to serve as the main transfer hub in downtown Little Rock. The $4 million project encompassed the block bounded by Rock St., Capitol Ave., Cumberland St., and 4th St. In 2021, Rock Region Metro began to explore the possibility of expanding the facility to include transit oriented development. [7] As of January 2016, a total of 22 fixed routes and all four express routes serve RCTC, which doubles as the agency's primary sales and information office for riders. At the Midtown Target stop in central Little Rock, five fixed routes (#3, #5, #8, #9, and #22) converge on Midtown Avenue to provide more convenient, efficient transferring opportunities in west-central Little Rock.
Rock Region METRO operates on-demand ride hailing services through its Via App AKA Metro Connect Rock Region. [8] It expanded service to Conway, Arkansas, on October 24, 2022, marking the city's first modern-day public transit service. [9] In 2024 Metro connect also expanded to Sherwood AR. The service which started in 2020 with one test zone in John Barrow now has 6 service areas covering Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood and Conway.
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: No vehicles newer than 2012 are mentioned.(September 2024) |
All busses use Gillig Corporation as their make & Low Floor as their model.
Vehicle Numbers | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|
2101-2107; 2109 | 2001 | 35FT |
2301-2309 | 2003 | 35FT |
2401-2407 | 2004 | 29FT |
2701-2705 | 2007 | 35FT |
2706 | 2007 | 40FT |
2801-2805 | 2008 | 40FT |
2806-2810 | 2008 | 40FT |
2901-2904 | 2009 | 40FT |
2905-2907 | 2009 | 35FT |
1001-1004 | 2010 | 40FT |
All busses use ElDorado National as their make.
Vehicle Numbers | Model | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2851-2857 | Aero Elite | 2008 | Chevrolet C4500 Cutaway |
2961-2963 | Aero Elite | 2009 | Chevrolet C4500 Cutaway; Jayco Chassis |
2954-2965 | Aero Elite | 2008 | Chevrolet C5500 Cutaway |
1251-1252 | Aero Tech | 2012 | Chevrolet G4500 Express Van Cutaway |
All cars are manufactured by Gomaco Trolley Company as their make & Replica Birney as their model.
Vehicle Numbers | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|
408 | 2002 | |
409-410 | 2003 | |
411-412 | 2006 |
Rock Region Metro is involved in the long-range transportation planning process for the Little Rock metropolitan area known as MOVE Central Arkansas. Future expansion recommendations include more frequent service, expanded coverage area, service to outlying areas, Sunday service on all routes, and placement of facilities at more bus stops.
There are expansion studies for the Metro Streetcar to provide more service in North Little Rock and Little Rock. Recommendations include service to the Arkansas State Capitol, Clinton National Airport, and Main Street extensions in both downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock's Mid-City neighborhood.
The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services. [10]
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County. It also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County, and to Conroe in Montgomery County. The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 77,189,800, or about 244,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle. It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 78,121,600, or about 277,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. Metro employs 2,477 full-time and part-time operators and operates 1,540 buses.
Spokane Transit Authority, more commonly Spokane Transit or STA, is the public transport authority of central Spokane County, Washington, United States, serving Spokane, Washington, and its surrounding urban areas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 9,215,700, or about 36,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
Transportation in Seattle is largely focused on the automobile like many other cities in western North America; however, the city is just old enough for its layout to reflect the age when railways and trolleys predominated. These older modes of transportation were made for a relatively well-defined downtown area and strong neighborhoods at the end of several former streetcar lines, now mostly bus lines.
The Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority, more popularly known as Valley Metro, is the unified public brand of the regional transit system for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Within the system, it is divided between Valley Metro Bus, which runs all bus operations, Valley Metro Rail, which is responsible for light rail and streetcar operations in the Valley. In 2023, the combined bus and rail system had a ridership of 36,374,000, or about 107,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
The Metro Streetcar, formerly known as the River Rail Streetcar, is a two line heritage streetcar system operating in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas. It has operated since November 1, 2004. Most recently expanded in 2007, the streetcar now operates over 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of track in a figure-eight loop pattern. The Metro Streetcar is operated by Rock Region Metro. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 22,600.
Embark is the public transit agency of the COTPA trust, the largest transit agency in the state of Oklahoma. Embark has 20 interconnecting bus routes covering the city of Oklahoma City and parts of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, including weekday Express service from Norman to Downtown Oklahoma City. Embark also operates paratransit, the Oklahoma City Streetcar, downtown public parking, bike share, and river ferry services. Additionally, Embark provides administrative and executive support for the Regional Transportation Authority of Central Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City is near the geographic center of the United States and is an integral point on the U.S. Interstate Network. The city is served by numerous roads and highways, toll roads, three major airports, a train station, a bus station, and a transit system.
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is the public transit operator serving the Lansing, Michigan area, including service on the campus of Michigan State University. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 8,082,200.
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, officially stylized as CapMetro, is a public transportation provider located in Austin, Texas. It operates bus, paratransit services and a hybrid rail system known as CapMetro Rail in Austin and several suburbs in Travis and Williamson counties. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 25,229,400, or about 83,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is the public transport agency serving Cincinnati and its Ohio suburbs. SORTA operates Metro fixed-route buses, bus rapid transit, microtransit, and paratransit services. SORTA's headquarters are located at the Huntington Building in Cincinnati’s Central Business District. The agency is managed by CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley along with a 13-member board of trustees. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,091,500, or about 44,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
The Gary Public Transportation Corporation (GPTC) is a commuter bus system in Gary, Indiana that offers service to numerous stops throughout the city and neighboring suburbs. GPTC is a public corporation owned but not directly controlled by the city.
Metro is the operator of public transit services in the Kalamazoo metropolitan area of Michigan. Metro operates fixed-route bus service on 21 routes, serving the city of Kalamazoo, its immediate suburbs, and Western Michigan University. It also provides demand-response service in all of Kalamazoo County, with additional paratransit and microtransit services in the region served by its fixed-route buses.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is a government agency that provides public transportation for Pinellas County, Florida. The authority manages a fixed-route bus system that encompasses over 40 bus routes - including two express routes to Tampa; the Central Avenue Trolley; the Suncoast Beach Trolley; and the bus rapid transit service, the SunRunner.
Light rail is a mode of rail-based transport, usually urban in nature.
Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city's population was 202,591 as of the 2020 census. The six-county Little Rock metropolitan area is the 81st-most populous in the United States with 748,031 residents according to the 2020 census.
The COMET, officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA), is a regional transportation authority formed by Richland County, City of Columbia, and Lexington County on April 24, 2000, by the Central Midlands Council of Governments. The COMET consists of an intergovernmental agreement signed by Richland County, the City of Columbia, the City of Forest Acres, and Lexington County to fund, operate and maintain public transit services and mass transportation in Richland and Lexington counties in the Columbia metropolitan area of South Carolina.
Transportation in metropolitan Detroit comprises an expansive system of roadways, multiple public transit systems, a major international airport, freight railroads, and ports. Located on the Detroit River along the Great Lakes Waterway, Detroit is a significant city in international trade, with two land crossings to Canada. Three primary Interstate highways serve the region.
Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the primary bus agency providing intra- and inter-city routes for the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area centered on Bay City, Michigan since 1974.