Lee Wells named as new JET director in Jonesboro

Lee Wells has been selected as the new JET (Jonesboro Economical Transportation) director for the city of Jonesboro. He will assume the job immediately.

Wells has served as the interim director of JET since October 2023, supervising daily operations and ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local laws, while building a work environment for its more than two dozen employees in the department.

Wells’ experience in transit dates back to his start as a shuttle driver for Victory Shuttle as well as a bus driver for the Paragould School District.

“With the highly-anticipated new hybrid trolleys joining the fleet later in 2024, the opportunity to build a system that best fits the city’s growing needs is prime,” said Mayor Harold Copenhaver. “As interim director, Lee has proven his leadership skills and his interest in modernizing the system for its thousands of residential users proves he is the right fit to move us forward.”

Jonesboro received a grant of $878,584 for five low- or no-emission trolley-style buses in August 2022 by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with another $1.188 million granted in June 2023 as a part of the federal Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.

“The recent success with Federal grants provides the city an opportunity for reimagining how the city bus system looks, operates, and serves our community,” Copenhaver said. “It serves our community and it’s nearly 100,000 riders per year.”