METRO Connect

Click here to download the METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone Map PDF.

Why Microtransit?

For certain service areas, microtransit does a better job of meeting transit demand than a full-size bus operating on a fixed route. Microtransit allows Rock Region METRO to provide on-demand transit rides using smaller vehicles within a set zone, during regular operating hours, via its METRO Connect on-demand service.

Benefits to Riders

METRO Connect offers:

FASTER SERVICE: Route 9 West Central/John Barrow Road currently operates on a 65-minute frequency. The METRO Connect on-demand service is expected to reduce travel times to 30 minutes or less within the zone.

SAME PRICE: A passenger trip on a METRO Connect vehicle costs the same fare rate as a trip on a METRO bus: For an Adult One-Way Ride Cash Fare, it’s $1.35 per trip.

NEW PLACES: The METRO Connect John Barrow Road zone contains spots that have not previously been served by non-paratransit public transit service. Those spots include CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock and Camp Aldersgate and other locations along Aldersgate Road.

What is the METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone?

METRO Connect is a 6-month ride-hailing service pilot project (initially operating Monday, Aug. 5, 2019 through Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020) for the John Barrow Road/West Central Little Rock area that uses smaller vehicles and door-to-door on-demand service to take riders exactly where they need to go, when they need to go there. If the pilot program is successful, it’s possible Rock Region METRO will be able to continue METRO Connect service for the John Barrow Road/West Central Little Rock area beyond the pilot program’s end, with community support.

How and When Does METRO Connect Work?

As of Monday, Aug. 5, METRO Connect offers a smartphone app, the Transloc Microtransit App, (and dial-in service) to schedule ride-hailing trips occurring within a set service area, during regular Rock Region METRO operating hours (6 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday). Standard METRO fares apply.

Download the Transloc Microtransit App:

Transloc Microtransit App Logo

Transloc Microtransit App Step-by-Step Directions:

Remember: This app will not hail a METRO Connect ride until Monday, Aug. 5 when METRO launches the METRO Connect service.

1. Download the Transloc Microtransit App. (This app requires Android 5.0, released in 2014, and iOS 10.0 or later.)
2. Allow the app to access your smartphone’s locations services.
3. Create an account. Please Note: Disregard the university account login prompt and instead create a Transloc account.
4. Click Ridesharing Services and select Connect John Barrow Road Zone Weekday or Connect John Barrow Road Zone Saturday.
5. Tap the map.
6. Confirm your pickup location and select your drop-off location. Both locations must be within the John Barrow Road Zone.
7. To schedule your ride in advance, change your pickup time by tapping ASAP and selecting a new date and time. Rides may be scheduled up to one week in advance.
8. Select the number of passengers with you and whether you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
9. Tap Request Ride when ready.

Stay informed on your ride status with push notifications.

Should you need to cancel a ride, click on the three dots and select Cancel Ride Request.

Don’t have a smartphone?

Call METRO Dispatch at 501-476-3761 to schedule your pickup. You will be asked for your first and last name and phone number to set up a METRO Connect Transloc account, or, if you have an existing METRO Connect Transloc account, you will be asked for the email address associated with it.

Fares

Standard METRO fares apply. Cash, passes and Token Transit app passes are accepted. Coming Soon: Pay your fare within the Transloc Microtransit app for faster boarding! Please note: Collected fares are not refundable.

Booking for a loved one, patient, student or someone else?

Visit ondemand.transloc.com. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

Where Does METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone Operate? (Find “Points of Interest” Here.)

METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone vehicles operate within the zone and can provide riders transfer points with stops shared with Route 3 Baptist Medical Center and Route 14 Rosedale. There are a few specific, community-oriented designated “points of interest” in the METRO Connect John Barrow Road area that are outside of the zone parameters but to and from which riders may book a ride. Those points of interest are: Davita Dialysis (6 Freeway Dr., Little Rock), JA Fair High School (13420 David O. Dodd Rd., Little Rock), Landers Toyota (10825 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock), Midtown Dialysis (2 Lile Ct., Little Rock) and Shopper Value Foods (6800 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock). Please note that “points of interest” are subject to change at any time in the future.

Click here to view the METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone Map

Key transfer points are at:

Route 3 Transfer at John Barrow Road & Kanis Road – Look for the METRO Connect sign at the Mapco gas station on the northeast side of the intersection.

Route 3 and 14 Transfer at Shackleford Crossings (2700 S. Shackleford Rd.) – Look for the METRO Connect sign at the Routes 3 and 14 shelter at the Shackleford Crossings Walmart

Route 14 Transfer at West Central Community Center (8616 Colonel Glenn Rd.) – Look for the METRO Connect sign on the north side of the West Central Community Center building (within the parking lot).

The METRO Connect John Barrow Road Zone includes some areas served by the former METRO Route 9 John Barrow Road/West Central, as well as new points of interest such as CARTI, Henderson Middle School and businesses in the I-430 & Colonel Glenn Road area.

Download the Transloc app but seeing a blank, black page?

If you are accessing the app farther than 30 miles from a zone parameter, a zone will not appear within the app and a “Booking unavailable” message will appear.