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 about a potential rail spur; staff submitted answers and are awaiting further FTA response. The access road and spur are tied to pending FTA grant considerations, Ken said.

Commissioners discussed prior budget deliberations that would have removed operating and some capital funds tied to a proposed service expansion. The commission rescinded those proposed cuts after concluding they would have jeopardized significant grant funding, staff said, and that decision preserves roughly $60,000 in operating funds that could be paired with vehicle savings from the CNG work to buy a replacement van and consider modest route changes.

Staff also reported on vehicle maintenance and the fleet: many buses have passed 100,000 miles, and exhaust‑filter and sensor issues require periodic cleaning, sometimes taking vehicles off route for maintenance. The commission noted a lack of a reliable spare large bus for service backups.

Procurement and equity: staff said bid packets include the commission's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) plan and DBE goals and that the commission will post opportunities on the state vendor site and the city website to encourage small‑business participation. Ken and other staff said some large projects such as the access road may be bid in bundles to allow smaller firms to work on portions of contracts.

Technology and customer experience: Greg, a staff member, said the agency completed an updated portion of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data required for National Transit Database (NTD) reporting and is working with RTAP to finish additional data needed for Google and iOS maps so routes can appear in those services. He said RouteShout, the agency's trip‑planning app, has had outages recently because the product changed hands among vendors; staff are working with the provider to improve reliability.

Commissioners and staff also discussed whether to explore newer scheduling software that would better integrate fixed‑route planning, on‑demand scheduling, fare payments and notifications into a single system. Staff cautioned against buying a product that would quickly become incompatible with other planned systems; commissioners asked for timeline and cost information before committing to a change.

Service pilots and outreach: commissioners revisited a prior suggestion to test occasional late‑night service supported by sponsors; staff said they have reached out to transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft to discuss partnerships and are planning a transportation fair (virtual and in person) to engage potential sponsors and community partners. Commissioners also discussed the persistent operational challenge of route segments where riders are served only by request and asked staff to monitor problem pickup locations.

Public comment and rider outreach: Keely Simpson, missions facilitator for First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Future Fort Smith community, urged the commission to keep transit service strong amid city budget pressures and to continue outreach to sponsors. Simpson said transit is often the most affordable option for people in crisis and encouraged continued partnership with nonprofits.

CNG program experience and safety: staff said the CNG buses are quieter, produce fewer odors at transfer points and are cheaper to fuel, but that large buses are expensive to buy. Staff noted one historical safety incident involving an added‑on CNG retrofit years ago; modern, manufacturer‑built CNG buses include improved safety valves and design changes.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve meeting minutes: outcome approved. Roll call: Melissa Yes; Angie Yes; Marion Yes; Bradley Yes; Joe Yes. (Mover: not specified; seconder: Bradley.) - Appointment of Joe as vice chair: outcome approved. Mover: Bradley; seconder: Angie. Roll call: Melissa Yes; Marion Yes; Angie Yes; Bradley Yes; Joe Yes.

Staff said they will return with cost estimates for software options and an updated schedule for route modifications after additional savings estimates from the CNG slow‑fill system are available.

Ending: Commissioners set a next meeting date for Aug. 27 (confirmed at the meeting). Staff said they will post bid documents and updates on the city website and follow up with the FTA and DBE outreach for upcoming procurements.