Last updated: November 1, 2026
Bottom line
Arkansas has no single transportation grant for all single mothers. The right help depends on the trip. Medicaid may cover rides to approved health care. Local transit systems have buses, vans, and rides for people with disabilities. TEA, Work Pays, workforce programs, schools, and local groups may help with work, training, or your child’s needs. Each has its own rules.
If you need a medical ride, start with the Arkansas Medicaid NET page and call your regional broker early. For work or training, talk with your DHS or workforce case manager before you pay. For other state benefits, see Arkansas family help. The national transportation guide covers more options.
If you need a ride today
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation is not an ambulance service.
- Urgent medical care: Call your Medicaid transportation broker. If your doctor says the trip is medically urgent, the doctor must contact the broker so the ride can be considered without the normal advance notice.
- Your medical ride did not come: Call the broker that booked it. The NET Help Line, 1-888-987-1200, option 1, handles questions and complaints, but does not schedule rides. TDD/TTY is 1-800-285-1131.
- Gas, bus, or local ride help: Use the Arkansas 211 search for programs by ZIP code. In 2026, the 211 operator says it can serve callers in Benton, Madison, and Washington counties. If you live elsewhere, use the online directory and call the agency listed for your county.
- Other urgent needs: The Arkansas emergency guide covers food, shelter, utilities, and other crisis help.
Where to start
Medical appointment
Check Medicaid NET first. The appointment must be for a Medicaid-covered service, and you must have no other available ride.
Work or training
Ask TEA, Work Pays, or your Workforce Center whether transportation can be approved as a support for your work plan.
School or child care
Ask the school, Head Start program, college, or child care provider about local transportation and attendance support.
Bus or paratransit
Use the statewide transit directory, then ask the local agency about routes, fares, reduced fares, and ADA paratransit.
What has changed
October 2026: Rock Region METRO has announced service updates planned for November 16, 2026, and new bus and paratransit fares planned for January 2027. The January start day was not yet set. Do not use those future prices for rides now. Check the METRO service announcement before you travel.
September 21, 2026: METRO Pay reloadable smart cards began. The first card for a person is free through October 20, 2026. Starting October 21, a card costs $10. The card can be used on fixed routes and microtransit, and fare caps can save money on eligible trips. You can still use cash or the other accepted pass types. See the official smart-card notice.
Quick reference
| If you need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride to medical care | Medicaid NET broker | Coverage, pickup window, return ride | Usually 72 hours ahead. ARHOME has an eight-leg yearly limit, but you can ask for more. |
| City or regional bus | Local transit agency | Routes, fares, passes, and service hours | Service differs by city and county. |
| Disability transportation | Local paratransit office | Application, eligibility, and ride area | A diagnosis alone does not decide eligibility. |
| Work or training travel | TEA or Workforce Center | Bus pass, mileage, gas, or approved repair | Support must usually be approved first. |
| Gas or one-time ride | 211 or local agency | What is open in your county this week | Local funds are limited and may run out. |
Arkansas Medicaid medical rides
Arkansas Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) can take eligible members to and from covered medical care when they have no other way to get there. Regular NET rides have no copay. Under traditional Medicaid, the state does not set a trip-count or mileage cap, as long as the ride meets the program rules. A visit must be with an enrolled Arkansas Medicaid provider. ARHOME is different: its NET benefit has a limit of eight one-way ride legs per calendar year. Members may ask for an extension after reaching that limit. ARHOME rides must be to a provider in the member’s health-plan network. See the Medicaid NET broker guide for the different coverage rules and your local broker.
Eligible members generally include people with Arkansas Medicaid and children with ARKids First-A. The state lists ARKids First-B, nursing facility residents, certain residential ICF/IID residents, and Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) among those who do not qualify for regular NET. Ask the broker or NET Help Line to check your exact Medicaid coverage if you are unsure. A referral may be needed for a specialist outside your region.
How to schedule a ride
- Find the transportation broker for your county. The AFMC NET page has the regional guide. If unsure, call 1-888-987-1200, option 1 to find the broker. This help line does not book rides.
- Call at least 72 hours, or three full business days, before the appointment. Do not count weekends or holidays.
- Have your Medicaid ID, pickup address, phone number, appointment date, provider name, and provider address ready.
- Ask for the pickup time, return-ride process, and the number to call if the driver is late.
- Be ready for pickup. Drivers may have a short waiting window. Ask if the 15-minute no-show rule applies to your trip.
Call the regional broker—not the help line—to book or cancel a ride. Ask for a confirmation number. If the appointment is urgent and cannot wait for normal notice, ask the medical office to contact the broker to explain the need. An urgent ride is not guaranteed. For repeat care such as dialysis or weekly therapy, ask if the broker can set up a recurring schedule.
If you travel outside your broker region, your doctor may need to send a referral to the broker. If you have several appointments on the same day, tell the broker when scheduling so each leg can be arranged.
Region G changed in 2026
People in Pulaski, Faulkner, and Lonoke counties began using Modivcare on January 2, 2026. The scheduling number remains 888-833-4135. Other counties should continue using the broker listed for their region unless DHS announces a change.
If you need help keeping Medicaid active, use the Arkansas healthcare guide. A closed Medicaid case can also stop access to NET.
Buses, on-demand service, and local transit
Arkansas public transportation is local rather than one statewide bus system. Start with the ARDOT public transit directory or the transit agency list. Then confirm routes, service hours, booking rules, and fares with the agency that serves your area.
| Area | Transit system | Services to check |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock area and Conway | Rock Region METRO | Fixed routes, METRO Connect, passes, and METRO Links paratransit |
| Northwest Arkansas | Ozark Regional Transit | Fixed routes, on-demand trips, and disability discounts |
| Fort Smith | Fort Smith Transit | Fixed routes, demand response, and paratransit |
| Jonesboro | GOJO Transit | Fixed routes, app-based trip planning, and paratransit |
Rock Region METRO in October 2026: Adult local bus fare is $1.35 one way; a day pass is $3.75; and a 31-day pass is $36. METRO Links paratransit is $2.70 one way. The streetcar is free. Check the current METRO fare chart for passes and reduced fares. METRO has announced a $1.50 adult base fare and a $3 day pass planned for January 2027, but the exact start day had not been named by October 13, 2026.
Ozark Regional Transit: Its fixed routes are currently free. Its on-demand ride costs $1.25 for a trip for up to five riders, within a covered zone. Some service runs only on certain days. You can book through the app or by phone; see the ORT booking guide. Confirm the zone, pickup point, and need for a child safety seat.
Fort Smith: The city’s July 2026 fare notice kept base fares at $1.25 for a regular fixed-route ride, $0.50 for an eligible reduced fare, and $2.50 for a demand-response or ADA ride. The city proposed new fare options; check Fort Smith’s fare notice and the transit office before paying.
Ask whether the agency offers a reduced fare, student pass, monthly pass, travel training, or on-demand zone. Do not rely on an old fare screenshot. Transit agencies can change prices, zones, and holiday schedules.
Disability transportation and ADA paratransit
Some bus systems also offer ADA paratransit. This may help if a disability makes it hard or unsafe for you to use the fixed bus route. You must apply through your local transit agency. A diagnosis alone does not mean you qualify.
The Federal Transit Administration explains that paratransit eligibility is based on a person’s functional ability to use the bus, not only on a diagnosis. Apply through the local transit agency and describe what happens when you try to reach, board, ride, or understand the fixed-route service. The official paratransit eligibility guide explains this standard.
If the agency denies eligibility, ask for the written reason and appeal instructions. Federal rules require an appeal process. If you or your child has complex behavioral health, developmental, or intellectual disability needs, ask the PASSE care coordinator which transportation service applies before scheduling. Ask your PASSE care coordinator whether the plan offers another safe ride option.
Transportation for work and training
TEA and Work Pays
Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance, or TEA, provides temporary cash and employment-related support to some families with children. DHS says support can include transportation and child care when needed for approved work, education, or training activities. Apply and manage benefits through Access Arkansas.
Work Pays support may help some former TEA recipients who are working and need help staying employed. Ask what transportation support is available under your case before buying gas, a pass, tires, or repairs. The Arkansas TANF guide explains the cash-assistance side.
Workforce and WIOA support
Arkansas Workforce Centers provide free employment services. Some people who qualify for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services may receive transportation or child care support connected to an approved training or employment plan. The official job seeker page lists current services and the statewide number 1-844-908-2178.
Arkansas has ten local workforce areas. Use the workforce center map to find the right office. Ask whether the cost must be approved in writing, whether reimbursement is allowed, and what receipts are required. The Arkansas education guide can help with school costs outside transportation.
School, Head Start, and child care transportation
Transportation for school or child care is not one automatic statewide benefit. Ask the program directly before enrolling or changing providers.
- Head Start: Some programs provide transportation or coordinate local options, while others do not. Use the official Head Start locator and ask each program about routes, stops, car seats, attendance rules, and pickup people. Ask if the program can help with attendance even if it has no bus.
- Unstable housing: A child who qualifies under McKinney-Vento may have transportation rights connected to the school of origin. Ask the school for the district homeless liaison. The federal school transportation brief explains these protections.
- Child care: Ask the provider whether it offers transportation and whether the route, driver, insurance, and child-restraint rules are approved. The Arkansas child care guide covers subsidy help.
Transportation help for veterans and caregivers
Eligible veterans and some caregivers may receive mileage or other travel reimbursement for approved VA health care. The current VA travel reimbursement page explains eligibility and claims. Keep appointment information and receipts for costs that require proof.
VA travel pay is separate from Arkansas Medicaid NET. Use the program that applies to the appointment and your coverage. A VA social worker or county veterans service officer may help you check other benefits.
Gas cards, car repairs, tires, and one-time rides
Arkansas does not offer a guaranteed statewide gas-card or car-repair grant for single mothers. Local help may come from a Community Action agency, church, shelter, workforce program, school emergency fund, clinic social worker, or nonprofit. Funding can be limited to a specific county, purpose, or week.
The Arkansas 211 resource directory lists gas, local transportation, and other forms of help. Its operator says live 211 referrals are now limited to Benton, Madison, and Washington counties. If you are elsewhere, use the directory and call the local program yourself. A listing does not mean a fund is open or that you qualify.
Ask for one clear item: a bus pass for a new job, gas for a medical trip, a tire needed to keep working, or a ride to a required training day. The Arkansas community guide lists more local support.
Avoid fake transportation grants
Do not pay an application fee for a promised free car, guaranteed repair grant, or instant gas money. Real programs usually verify the need, pay a vendor, issue a limited voucher, or connect help to a case plan.
What to have ready
Keep these details together for each ride request. You can also make a simple document checklist for several programs:
| Program | Information to gather | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid NET | Medicaid ID, pickup address, appointment, provider | The broker checks coverage and schedules the trip. |
| TEA or Work Pays | Case number, activity plan, schedule, travel cost | Support must connect to an approved activity. |
| WIOA training | Training plan, class dates, work goal, receipts | The case manager decides what can be approved. |
| Paratransit | Travel barriers, disability information, destinations | Eligibility is based on using the fixed route. |
| Local charity | ZIP code, trip purpose, deadline, proof of need | Local funds often have narrow rules. |
If transportation is denied, delayed, or does not arrive
Ask for the reason and next step in writing whenever possible. Keep confirmation numbers, call times, names, notices, screenshots, and receipts.
- NET ride does not arrive: Call the broker while you are still waiting. Then call the NET Help Line and notify the medical provider.
- NET ride is denied: Ask whether the problem is Medicaid eligibility, your coverage category, the provider, the service, advance notice, or an out-of-region referral.
- Written Medicaid denial or closure: Read the date on the notice. The DHS appeal instructions describe hearing requests, often with a 30-calendar-day deadline. The deadline and review path can depend on the type of decision. Follow your own notice and ask legal aid or DHS if you are not sure.
- Paratransit denial: Ask for the written eligibility decision and appeal instructions. Explain which parts of the regular bus system you cannot use.
- TEA transportation or cash-case problem: Contact your county office through the DHS county-office finder. The state lists a 30-calendar-day deadline to request a hearing on TEA eligibility denials or case closures. Check the date on the actual letter.
- WIOA support denied: Ask the case manager which local supportive-service policy applies and whether another approved option is available.
Write down the dates of your calls and keep all papers for a hearing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling too late. Most regular Medicaid rides require 72 hours’ notice.
- Buying before approval. TEA and WIOA may not repay a cost that was not approved.
- Asking only for transportation. Say whether you need a medical ride, bus pass, gas, repair, or paratransit.
- Missing benefit notices. A Medicaid or TEA closure can also end transportation support.
- Assuming a diagnosis guarantees paratransit. The agency reviews your ability to use fixed-route transit.
- Using old route information. Confirm current stops, fares, zones, and holiday service.
Backup options
When one program cannot help, make the request smaller and more specific. A local group may not repair a car but may provide one bus pass. A workforce program may not pay weekly gas but may cover an approved training trip.
- Ask a clinic or hospital for a social worker or care coordinator.
- Ask an employer about a temporary schedule that matches bus service.
- Ask a school counselor or homeless liaison about child transportation.
- Ask a child care provider about approved pickup people or routes.
- Use the Arkansas housing guide or Arkansas utility guide if another bill is using the money needed for transportation.
Phone scripts
Calling Medicaid NET
Hello, I have Arkansas Medicaid and need a ride to a covered appointment on [date]. My Medicaid ID and provider information are ready. Which broker serves my county, and what are the pickup and return instructions?
Reporting a missing ride
Hello, my ride was scheduled for [time], confirmation number [number], and it has not arrived. I am still at the pickup address. What is the driver status, and what should I do if I miss the appointment?
Asking about work support
Hello, transportation is blocking my approved [work, training, or school] activity. Can my program help with a bus pass, gas, mileage, or another option? What must be approved before I spend money?
Calling a local agency
Hello, I live in ZIP code [number]. I need [gas, a bus pass, a tire, or a ride] by [date] for [work, school, child care, or medical care]. Is any program accepting requests this week?
Resumen en español
Arkansas no tiene una sola ayuda de transporte para todas las madres solteras. Medicaid NET puede ayudar con viajes a citas médicas cubiertas si no tiene otra forma de ir. Para una cita normal, llame al proveedor de transporte de su región con al menos tres días completos de anticipación, sin contar fines de semana ni días festivos. La línea 1-888-987-1200, opción 1, ayuda a encontrar el proveedor y recibe quejas, pero no reserva viajes.
Si tiene ARHOME, pregunte por el límite anual de ocho viajes de ida y por una posible extensión. Para trabajo, escuela o cuidado infantil, pregunte a TEA, Work Pays, el centro de empleo o la escuela antes de gastar dinero. Arkansas 211 indica que su servicio telefónico se limita a Benton, Madison y Washington; el directorio en línea tiene más lugares. Si le niegan ayuda, guarde la carta y revise la fecha para apelar.
FAQ
Can Medicaid pay for a ride?
Arkansas Medicaid NET may provide a no-cost ride to covered medical care when you have an eligible Medicaid category and no other available transportation.
How early should I schedule NET?
Call at least 72 hours, or three full business days, before a regular appointment. Weekends and holidays do not count toward the notice period.
Who do I call if the ride is late?
Call the transportation broker first. If the problem is not fixed, call the NET Help Line at 1-888-987-1200, option 1, and notify the medical provider.
Can TEA help with transportation?
TEA and Work Pays may provide transportation support tied to an approved work, education, or training activity. Ask the case manager before paying for the cost.
How do I find a bus system?
Use the ARDOT public transit directory or Arkansas Transit Association agency list. Then confirm current routes, fares, service hours, and paratransit rules locally.
Does Arkansas offer car repair grants?
There is no guaranteed statewide car-repair grant for single mothers. Local agencies, workforce programs, schools, and charities may offer limited help when funding is available.
Does ARHOME have a ride limit?
Yes. Arkansas Medicaid says ARHOME NET covers eight one-way legs each calendar year. Ask your broker about an extension if you need more eligible rides. Traditional NET has different limits.
Can 211 find gas help statewide?
The Arkansas 211 online directory covers resources around the state. Its operator says live phone service is currently limited to Benton, Madison, and Washington counties. Call the local agency in a listing to check funding.
Are Rock Region METRO fares changing?
METRO announced planned fare changes for January 2027, but had not given an exact start day by October 13, 2026. Current adult bus fare is $1.35. Check the official fare page before you buy a pass.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified November 1, 2026; next review January 30, 2027.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.
Last updated: November 1, 2026 Next review: January 30, 2027