Fort Smith transit commission opens bids for CNG slow‑fill expansion, weighs route and tech upgrades; appoints vice chair

Fort Smith — The Fort Smith Transit Commission on an unspecified date approved a series of operational updates and moved forward with bids for a slow‑fill expansion to its compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station while discussing federal grant questions for an access road and plans for software and smartphone integration.

Commission discussion centered on three near‑term procurements: bids for a slow‑fill addition to the existing fast‑fill CNG station, continuing work on an access road that could include a rail spur, and acquisition of a large transit bus under the state contract. Ken, a staff member, told commissioners the slow‑fill system would allow drivers to “hook the hose up, go home” and have buses reach full capacity overnight, freeing about 20 minutes per vehicle each day and potentially redeploying that staff time toward added service. The commission has posted bid materials with a June 1 posting date, a second posting June 8, a pre‑bid meeting on June 17 and a bid opening at the transit facility on June 26 at 2 p.m., Ken said.

Why it matters: a slow‑fill system is intended to increase operating efficiency by filling vehicles overnight and reducing driver downtime; paired with proposed route adjustments and a planned vehicle purchase, the changes could affect frequency and coverage if funded and implemented.

On the access road, staff said the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requested clarifications…