Pending city approval, 28 bus stops in Fayetteville and Rogers could receive more than $645,000 in upgrades as part of an effort to improve the rider experience and expand transportation options in the region, according to a news release.
The upgrades planned for the next year include new shelters, bike racks, sidewalk improvements and accessibility features such as Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, loading pads and new lighting.
The potential upgrades amount includes more than $228,000 in new grants from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation. Each city must approve the matching funds.
The grants would build on $150,000 awarded in June by the planning commission’s Policy Committee to Fayetteville for eight Razorback Transit stop improvements, supported by $37,500 in local money.
“When cities, philanthropy, and regional planning work together, we can create real choices for how people move across our region,” said Tim Reavis, multimodal transportation planner for Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. “These investments aren’t just about bus stops. They’re about building a connected, accessible network that keeps communities linked, supports our economy, and prepares Northwest Arkansas for the growth ahead.”
In a 2024 regional transportation survey, only 2% of respondents rated public transit availability and accessibility as good, while 79% rated it poor.
According to the release, Springdale-based transit provider Ozark Regional Transit and Razorback Transit in Fayetteville have developed bus stop improvement plans over the past two years. The plans are expected to show where upgrades will have the most significant impact.