Arkansas Microtransit: At What Cost to Traditional Bus Routes?

For the Rock Region Metro transit agency, convincing riders the cost-saving fleet of Uber- and Lyft-like vans do run on time is a challenge.

Last week, the North Little Rock City Council grilled Rock Region's new chief executive officer, Justin Avery, about the transit agency's shift from traditional buses to the transit agency's new micro-transit option dubbed Metro Connect.

Due to pandemic-related cost cutting, Rock Region has reduced some of its traditional bus service in favor of a cheaper and more high-tech micro-transit, a system where people order a ride on their smartphone that can take them to any location within a specially designated area.

But in the two years Rock Region has implemented the micro-transit system, it hasn't been working for many North Little Rock commuters who depend on buses, city and community officials said.