Little Rock is getting its streetcar back.
Rock Region Metro resumed Metro Streetcar service to most Little Rock stops Tuesday, July 13, nearly one month after North Little Rock stops resumed service. Streetcar service was suspended March 17, 2020, as part of Metro’s COVID-19 transit service modifications.
During the year without streetcar service, Rock Region Metro says it used the year without streetcar service to implement operational changes to better match streetcar service with demand and offer more convenience to riders. As a result, Monday-Thursday operating hours now start at 10:45 a.m., with Friday and Saturday operating hours remaining in place until midnight. The Sunday service span is largely unchanged. The Green Line, which had served the Little Rock stops only, was suspended so the Blue Line, which serves both Little Rock and North Little Rock, could receive a schedule overhaul that speeds up streetcar stop arrivals to every 20 minutes.
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. As a result, service to most Little Rock stops is following the North Little Rock service launch now that Metro has engaged in required safety check tasks related to re-establishing service on the main Little Rock streetcar loop.
Three Little Rock stops that follow the streetcar system’s 2007 expansion to serve the Clinton Presidential Center will remain closed through 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 3rd Street & River Market Avenue (along the side of the Marriott Residence Inn).
As 30 Crossing construction continues, it is likely that Metro Streetcar service will be suspended from time to time, making it critical for streetcar riders to check for service alerts before every trip. Service alerts can be found at the top of rrmetro.org and under the Service Alerts menu of the free METROtrack mobile app.
