Curbside Service Rider Guide & Tips

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How to Ride FST

Whether you are visiting Fort Smith, Arkansas for the first time or making lifestyle changes to your daily routine, use this guide to get started on your car-free trips around the area.

Riding the bus is easy, once you know how. Just follow these eleven easy steps!

Tips for Riders

Passengers are asked to be ready at the beginning of their 30 minute ride time window given to them by the dispatcher. Passengers are requested to wait at the exact doorway and address indicated when the trip was scheduled.
Drivers will not come to the door unless special assistance is requested at the time you call to make your reservation, and then only once the passenger has come outside. Drivers can only assist in reaching the door of your destination.
Once a driver arrives within the given 30 minute ride time window, they will wait no longer than 5 minutes, and then proceed on to their next passenger.
Please call the dispatch office at least 2 hours in advance to cancel a ride. Failure to call and cancel your ride at least 2 hours in advance will be considered a No Show and prevents other passengers from scheduling a ride during that time.
Frequent No Shows can result in a suspension of your riding privileges. Please see the Rider’s Guide for full details on the No Show policy and other policies on our services.

These rules are in place as our promise to keep you safe! See the complete Passenger Rules & Regulations.

Scheduling a Paratransit and Demand Response Ride

Base Fare: $2.50
Additional Service Trip Fare: $3.00
(Demand service when fixed routes are closed)
Seven (7) Years & Younger: Free (with paying passengers)

Verified Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Rides Free when providing care assistance.

When boarding be sure to have the exact fare ready. Drivers cannot make change.

Demand Scheduling Hours

Call 479-783-6464
between 8:00am and 3:00pm, Monday through Saturday.

Paratransit Scheduling Hours

Call 479-783-6464
Between 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Between 8:00am and 4:00pm, Saturday.

Service Hours

5:30am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday.
7:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday.

Sunday and holiday schedules are available by answering machine and can be confirmed as early as 5:00 a.m. the next business day. Fort Smith Transit does not provide same-day service. Customers must schedule one day in advance and may schedule multiple trips from one to five days in advance with one call. Dispatchers will select the pick-up and drop-off times available nearest your request. Call the office for information regarding paratransit certification. When calling to schedule trips, be ready to provide the following passenger information:

Your name, address, and phone number.
Date of the trip(s).
Requested pickup time(s).
Any specific appointment or work times.
Approximate duration of the appointment.
The exact street address and building entrance of each location, pickup, and drop off.
If you use a mobility device such as a wheelchair, cane, or walker.
If a companion, personal care attendant, or service animal will be traveling with you, and if the companion uses a mobility device.
If you need assistance to and from the vehicle.

All demand response trips are on a space availability basis and are still considered pending until 5 PM the night before the ride is to take place.

Equipment and Disabled Services

All FST buses are lift-equipped for mobility devices or steps and contain the appropriate restraint devices to assure securement. Service animals are permitted on FST buses. If you have a special need, please advise the dispatcher when scheduling your ride(s). Some disabled persons may be eligible for paratransit service. Call the transit office to obtain an application and information. When scheduling paratransit or demand response, please ensure we have the most recent information on file.

Free Wi-Fi

Enjoy your ride with FST's Free Wi-Fi!

Fort Smith Transit now offers free Wi-Fi in all buses and paratransit vehicles. Each vehicle will have a sign posted near the front of the bus with the Wi-Fi name and password. We encourage you to take advantage of our Wi-Fi for general web browsing, email, and social media. Unfortunately, we do not support high-bandwidth actions such as streaming video/music or downloading large files.

Fort Smith, AR