ORT ridership exceeds 345,000

Springdale-based transit provider Ozark Regional Transit saw ridership rise by 9.63% to 345,370 passengers in 2025 from 315,027 in 2024.

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, the record year, ridership increased to 319,060 from 317,448 in 2015. Ridership also exceeded 300,000 in 2014.

Executive Director Joel Gardner attributed the new record to doing “a much better job of saturating the area of the new [Walmart] Home Office with transit options.” ORT also began providing some fixed-route services on Saturdays in Fayetteville.

The 2025 ridership comprised 258,911 for fixed-route, 72,182 for on-demand and 14,277 for paratransit services.

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.