Rock Region Metro resumes streetcar service in NLR on June 1

Rock Region Metro announced last week it will resume its public transit streetcar service Tuesday, June 1 in North Little Rock. Streetcar service was suspended March 17, 2020 as part of its COVID-19 transit service modifications.

“We are pleased to be able to resume streetcar service just as the tourism high season is starting and our local hospitality organizations are easing out of their pandemic restrictions and preparing for summer visitors,” said Charles Frazier, Rock Region Metro CEO.

“We suspended streetcar service last year to protect public health while also trying to keep as much transit service on the roads as possible, and I’m thankful to our streetcar team for graciously serving riders in other areas, such as aiding fleet sanitation maintenance and driving within our METRO Connect on-demand service department to help connect riders to jobs, health care, education and grocery stores during this challenging year. We couldn’t have done it without them, and we’re excited to return them to their roles as ambassadors for Little Rock and Arkansas aboard the streetcars as we begin our post-pandemic recovery,” Frazier added.

During the year without streetcar service, changes were made to streetcar operations to better match service with demand and to offer more convenience to riders. As a result, Monday-Thursday operating hours will start at 10:45 a.m., with Friday and Saturday operating hours remaining in place until midnight. The Sunday service span is largely unchanged.

The Green Line, which had served the Little Rock stops only, was suspended so the Blue Line, which serves both Little Rock and North Little Rock, could receive a schedule overhaul that speeds up streetcar stop arrivals to every 20 minutes.

Due to I-30 construction projects, streetcar service will only open for North Little Rock stops on June 1. Little Rock stops are expected to be added back as early as July 1, although some River Market and Clinton Library stops will be halted until the highway construction is completed.

Find streetcar maps and schedules at this link.