Rock Region METRO is the central Arkansas public transit system carrying more than 2.5 million passengers trips per year, pre-pandemic, in the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock and in Pulaski County. It comprises five branches: METRO Local, a fixed-route bus service serving Pulaski County; METRO Streetcar, a rail system operating in Little Rock and North Little Rock; METRO Links an on-demand paratransit service; METRO Connect on-demand ride-sharing service and METRO Pool jobs-access vanpool service. Learn how easy it is to save money, help protect the environment, and build a stronger local economy by riding Rock Region METRO.
Each partner jurisdiction supports Rock Region METRO through a formula that allocates expenses based on bus route miles operated within each jurisdiction. METRO Streetcar is an equal partnership among Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County. Additional revenue sources include federal formula funds, the Arkansas Public Transit Trust Fund, rider fares and miscellaneous income streams.
More than 1.5 million passenger trips were taken on METRO’s system in 2021.
Rock Region METRO employs about 200 people, including administrators, supervisors, operators, maintenance staff and customer service representatives.
1986 — Central Arkansas Transit Authority (now Rock Region METRO) is founded
1991 — Current North Little Rock Rock Region METRO Administration Office opens at 901 Maple Street
2000 — River Cities Travel Center opens at 310 East Capitol Street in Little Rock
2004 — River Rail (now METRO Streetcar) opens
2007 — METRO Streetcar expands
2015 — MOVE Central Arkansas Service Plan adopted
2015 — CNG fueling station and buses debut
2015 — Rock Region METRO brand adopted
2015 — Launched first universal pass program
2016 — METROtrack mobile app debuts
2016 — Awarded first-ever FTA Bus and Bus Facilities discretionary grant