Ozark Regional Transit ridership on record pace
by October 2, 2025 3:36 pm 683 views
Springdale-based transit provider Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) continues to see passenger growth as it aims for record ridership levels in 2025, according to data released Wednesday (Oct. 1).
Ridership increased by 7.6% to 30,396 total passengers in September from 28,238 in the same month in 2024. Between January and September, ridership rose by 10.4% to 254,708 total passengers from 230,718 in the same period last year.
The continued growth comes after ORT’s ridership exceeded 200,000 passengers in August, the earliest point in a given year for ORT to reach this amount, putting it on pace to achieve record ridership in 2025.
According to a news release, ORT plans to install more than 20 new bus shelters in Northwest Arkansas to keep up with the growth. The work will be completed in partnership with participating cities. “Installation will be on a first-request and first-site-preparation/first-installation basis. These new shelters will provide safer, more comfortable spaces for riders across Benton and Washington counties.”
ORT also recently launched a collaboration with CityMapper, a global transit app that allows riders to plan their trips in real-time. The app combines “walking, biking, buses and ride-sharing into one seamless journey,” the release shows.
The app includes real-time bus arrival updates, service alerts, and trip planning that places priority on speed and convenience across multiple travel modes. QR codes providing route information will be available at bus stops starting along Eighth Street in Bentonville and expanding system-wide.
“This is a major step toward making public transportation in Northwest Arkansas more reliable, more accessible, and more rider-friendly than ever before,” said Joel Gardner, executive director of Ozark Regional Transit Authority. “With CityMapper and our ongoing investments in infrastructure, ORT is not just keeping pace with our growing region — we’re shaping its future.”
In 2024, ORT’s total ridership surpassed 300,000 passengers for the first time since 2016, rising by 15.8% to 315,027 from 272,023 in 2023. In 2016, a record year, ridership increased to 319,060 from 317,448 in 2015. Ridership also exceeded 300,000 in 2014.
ORT has three fixed routes that are shared between Bentonville and Rogers, two fixed routes in Fayetteville and two fixed routes in Springdale. ORT also offers on-demand transit in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale, as well as an express bus service between Fayetteville and Bentonville.