At CNU 34, we’re standing up an aspirational transit system for Northwest Arkansas

At CNU 34 in Northwest Arkansas, you’ll see a rapidly growing, polycentric region that is reprogramming its growth toward Charter- and transect-based urbanism.  The region’s transit system will also need to reprogram, to support the denser, walkable, mixed-use growth that the region and the economy will create.

CNU 34 will test elements of a prototypical, world-class transit system to move you to the events in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers and a few selected event venues.

CNU 34 transit

The core service will be an express coach route between Fayetteville's Graduate by Hilton hotel and Bentonville’s First Baptist Church, with both locations just off each city’s Square.  This will be useful for everyone staying within walking distance of these classic town centers.  

If you’re staying in Fayetteville, you can use this 40-minute route to reach events in Bentonville on Dual Spoke Day and on Bentonville Day.

And vice versa, if you’re staying in Bentonville, you can use this route to reach events in Fayetteville on Dual Spoke Day and on Fayetteville Day.

We expect this will not only expedite your ability to attend any event at CNU 34, but it also provides a simulation of a time when New Urbanist development and lively streets will support–and even require–a rapid transit solution like this.

What to expect

The full CNU 34 transit system will include:

Daytime Transit. The express coach service between Fayetteville and Bentonville, with frequent service approximately:

• Every 15 minutes to your starting point, until 9 a.m.

• Hourly “on the hour” all day, so you can travel between Fayetteville and Bentonville.

• Every 30 minutes, late afternoons and early evenings as you head to evening events or back to your home base. 

​Evening Transit. For most of the evening events, there will be dedicated direct service whenever you’ll need to travel beyond easy walking distance. 

• Tuesday, May 12, for the Opening Party in Rogers, service to and from both Fayetteville’s Graduate by Hilton hotel and Bentonville’s First Baptist Church. 

• Wednesday, May 13, for the Live Music Jam at George’s in Fayetteville, service to and from Bentonville’s First Baptist Church. (It’s an easy walk in Fayetteville)

• Thursday, May 14, for the Charter Awards at Heartland (HWHI) in Bentonville, service to and from both Fayetteville’s Graduate by Hilton hotel and Bentonville’s First Baptist Church. 

• Friday May 15, for the Closing Party at the Momentary Rode House in Bentonville, service to and from Fayetteville’s Graduate by Hilton hotel. (It’s an easy walk in Bentonville.)

How to use the system

When you arrive, you’ll receive a transit map and schedule that will provide specifics of where to expect transit to pick you up and drop you off, with hours of service and specific departure times. You’ll have unlimited, free access to all the transit with your CNU 34 registration.  

You can, of course, choose to travel independently between CNU 34 events at your own expense.  But in this fast growing region, no one can guarantee parking at your destination or the availability of hailing a rideshare or taxi.  Also, the transit will be the best place to catch up with those colleagues you only see at CNU!  

The fastest and most reliable way to move between CNU 34’s hotels and venues will be this model for a future of rapid, high-capacity transit for Northwest Arkansas. In this region, quality transit will be both a prerequisite and an outcome of Charter-inspired, Transect-based growth.