Good news: just in time for summer, Rock Region METRO will resume free-fare METRO Streetcar service in North Little Rock on Tuesday, June 1. Little Rock stops are expected to resume service in July. Replicas of the 1920 Birney Streetcar, the distinctive yellow streetcars are a fun and inexpensive way to take in the downtown sights and hear about the local area.
“We are pleased to be able to resume streetcar service just as the tourism high season is starting and our local hospitality organizations are easing out of their pandemic restrictions and preparing for summer visitors,” said Charles Frazier, METRO chief executive officer.
With COVID cases decreasing, vaccinations increasing and mandates loosening, North Little Rock is seeing a resurgence of activity and events, including the return of concerts at Simmons Bank Arena; the return of sporting events at Burns Park; the return of Arkansas Travelers to Dickey-Stephens Park, and the return of live music, events and theater productions returning to the Argenta Arts District. METRO streetcars are a fun addition to the downtown bustle.
METRO Streetcar operates seven days a week, except for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Boarding is only allowed at designated stop locations, found on the streetcar map. Download the free METROtrack mobile app to find out how many minutes away the next streetcar is from any stop in the system. Riders are reminded to check for active service alerts at the top of rrmetro.org and under the Service Alerts menu of the free METROtrack mobile app.
Monday-Thursday operating hours will start at 10:45 a.m., with Friday and Saturday operating hours remaining in place until midnight.
Board in North Little Rock (starting June 1):
- Main Street & Bishop Lindsey Avenue – nearby: North Little Rock Welcome Center, Argenta Plaza
- Maple Street & 6th Street
- Maple Street & Broadway Street – nearby: Flyway Brewing
- 120 Main Street – nearby: Simmons Bank Arena
Although streetcar service was initially suspended in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, construction for I-30 has also affected the timing of resuming service, as the streetcar is powered by an electric overhead catenary, and construction has at times required the relocation of some of the catenary poles and wiring.
Three Little Rock stops that follow the streetcar system’s 2007 expansion to serve the Clinton Presidential Center will remain closed through approximately December 2024 to accommodate the highway construction. Those are Stops 20008 at River Market Avenue & 3rd Street (in front of Dizzy’s Grill), Stop 12519 at World Avenue & 3rd Street (between the Clinton Presidential Center and the Heifer International world headquarters) and Stop 20010 at #rd Street & River Market Avenue (along the side of the Marriott Residence Inn).
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