This week, Ozark Regional Transit Authority (ORT) rolled out updated bus routes in Bentonville and Rogers aimed at improving public transit in and between the two cities.

These updates reflect two years of planning as the region’s bus service provider waited for both Water Tower Road and 8th Street to open on the east side of Bentonville before it could implement the more efficient routes, according to Joel Gardner, executive director of ORT.

The opening of 8th Street, coinciding with the grand opening of Walmart’s New Home Office on Jan. 17, provided the final piece needed to move forward with the new routes.

The updated east-west route from the Bentonville Community Center to Downtown Rogers cuts travel time down from 90 to 50 minutes. Other updates to north-south routes also improved times between key locations.

“We’ve been able to put some efficiencies back into transit by having those roads open,” Gardner said.

Ridership has increased 15% in the first few days of the new routes compared to January’s average, he added.

What’s New for Bentonville?

• Bentonville-Rogers Connector (BRC): Replacing the BRX, this updated route ensures faster, more efficient travel between Bentonville and Rogers.

• Route 14: A new route serving major Bentonville destinations such as Bentonville High School, Haas Hall Academy, Northwest Medical Center and The Links Apartments.

• Route 12 Update: Originally launched in late 2024, Route 12 will temporarily continue servicing the Walmart Logistics building until further notice before transitioning to its new permanent route connecting destinations such as the 8th Street Market and Associate Food Hall. 

• Route 490 Update: The NWACC Express continues to connect Bentonville to Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville, providing stops at NWACC Main Campus, NWA Mall and Uptown Rogers.

• Route 54: Serving the Rogers Convention Center, Embassy Suites and David Glass Technology Center, strengthening connections between Rogers and Bentonville.

How to Ride the Bus

ORT’s bus system offers free fixed routes — buses that pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops — Monday through Friday in Bentonville, as well as an On-Demand Transit service for $1.25 per ride Monday through Saturday. 

On-Demand Transit service, which started in 2022, makes getting around town similar to ordering an Uber. As with other ride sharing services, download the free “ORT On-Demand” app, create an account and add your credit card information, and type in where you want to go. If a bus is available, it will give you an estimated time of arrival. Average wait time is around 17-20 minutes once booked, Gardner said.

“It will come within a block of your home, or even closer, and get you within almost the doorstep of where you’re going,” Gardner said. Find what areas the On-Demand Transit serves here.

Demand for this service is high, however, and with only one bus dedicated to On-Demand Transit in Bentonville, a ride isn’t always available. If the bus isn’t available, the On-Demand app will show riders how to get to the nearest fixed route stop. 

ORT’s ADA Paratransit Service is available to those who qualify for Paratransit eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This free service is scheduled at least a day out.

“The goal is to take away any barriers that people have with mobility to access transit,” Gardner said.

All ORT buses are wheelchair accessible, and all fixed route and On-Demand buses are bicycle friendly. There is also free wi-fi on the fixed route buses, with a sign posted near the front of the bus with the wi-fi name and password. 

Future Services

ORT is working on bringing the City Mapper app to Northwest Arkansas as part of its services in the next couple months. City Mapper, available in major cities worldwide, helps users plan their travel by providing real-time information on multiple public transportation options.

Once it’s live in Northwest Arkansas, the app will show users when the next On-Demand Transit bus is available or where the nearest fixed route stop is, and how to walk to it. It also integrates bike or scooter shares if available, and real-time information on ride sharing services such as Lyft or Uber. 

While ORT ridership dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, numbers have been steadily increasing in Northwest Arkansas since 2022, with around 315,000 trips taken in 2024. At the rate Northwest Arkansas is growing, Gardner said ORT is working to increase services.

“In a community this size, we’re probably a good solid 10 to 15 years behind the curve on what we should have for public transit, but I’m massively pushing … to do more,” Gardner said.

Helpful Links

• Download the free “ORT On-Demand” app for On-Demand service maps and trip planning: Google Play or Apple

• Download the free fixed route app “PassioGo” for live updates: Google Play or Apple (Riders can also use Google Maps to see when the next bus will arrive.)

• Use Passio GO! for live updates on your browser

• Find ORT’s routes and schedules here