Conway, Arkansas – The City of Conway is asking residents to take a closer look at how they move around town and to share their thoughts on what local transportation should look like in the years ahead. A new transit survey is now open, giving the public a chance to weigh in on both bus service ideas and improvements to the city’s existing on-demand rides system.
The survey is part of a broader transit study aimed at shaping future mobility options for the community. City officials say the goal is simple but important: understand how people travel today, where gaps exist, and what changes could make daily transportation easier for residents, businesses, and visitors.
The public comment period is officially open and will remain available through Friday, May 8. During this time, community members are encouraged to review proposed ideas, explore route maps, and submit feedback online.
According to the City of Conway, the survey focuses on two main areas. The first is the possibility of introducing fixed-route bus services within the city. The second looks at ways to improve Conway’s current microtransit system, which provides flexible, on-demand transportation.
Officials say input from residents will play a central role in determining which direction the city takes. The feedback is expected to help identify travel patterns, service priorities, and potential improvements that could make transit more efficient and accessible.
As part of the study, four preliminary fixed-route concepts have been presented for public review. Each route is designed to connect key residential areas, schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities across the city.
One of the proposed options is Route 1, also known as the Yellow Line. This route would connect Conway Commons to Salem Road and College Avenue, traveling along Harkrider Street and Prince Street. Stops along the way would include Kroger on Salem Road, Conway High School, Downtown Conway, and the Conway Community Center.
Route 2, labeled the Red Line, would run between Walmart and Baptist Health Medical Center. It would follow Dave Ward Drive and serve several residential complexes, including Glenrock Apartments and Centerstone Apartments, as well as South Donaghey Avenue.
Another proposal, Route 3 or the Blue Line, would link South Donaghey Apartments to Conway Towne Center. This route would pass through major institutions such as the University of Central Arkansas, Conway Regional Health System, Central Baptist College, and Hendrix College, while also serving Walmart and surrounding commercial areas.
The fourth option, Route 4 or the Green Line, would connect Ott Memorial Boulevard to Baptist Health Medical Center. It would run through Harkrider Street, Oak Street, and Amity Road, with stops at Walmart, Hendrix College, Downtown Conway, Conway Commons, and Lewis Crossing Shopping Center.
City officials are encouraging residents to examine the route maps in detail and provide feedback on how well the proposed lines meet local needs. Interactive maps are available online, allowing users to see exactly how each route would operate across the city.
Alongside the fixed-route discussion, the survey also examines Conway’s microtransit system, which currently covers nearly the entire city. While the broad coverage has helped make the service widely available, officials note that it also creates challenges.
Because vehicles must travel long distances across a large service area, wait times can increase and ride availability can become limited during peak demand. This has led the city to explore possible changes to improve efficiency.
Among the ideas under consideration are focusing service in smaller, high-demand zones or dividing the city into two separate service areas. Each option comes with trade-offs. Smaller zones could reduce wait times and improve ride availability, but they might also limit coverage or require passengers to transfer between areas.
City leaders say there is no final decision yet, and that public input will be key in determining what adjustments, if any, should be made. Residents are being asked to review the current service map and share their experiences using the system.
The microtransit feedback process is designed to capture both frequent users and those who may not currently use the service but could benefit from improvements in the future.
All survey materials, including interactive maps and comment tools, are available online through the city’s transit study platform. Officials say they want as many voices as possible included in the process, especially from people who rely on public transportation for work, school, healthcare, and daily errands.
As Conway continues to grow, planners say the transit study is an opportunity to rethink how mobility works in the city. Whether through fixed bus routes, improved microtransit, or a combination of both, the goal remains focused on building a system that reflects real community needs.
Residents have until May 8 to take part and help shape what Conway’s transportation network could look like in the future.
