Arkansas Rides – AETN/DHS

Transportation · Arkansas · Free

Statewide ride-finding service connecting Arkansans to local public transit, senior vans, Medicaid transportation, and volunteer driver programs. Fathers without reliable transportation can call the toll-free number weekdays to be matched with providers serving their county for work, medical, or family trips. Have your county, pickup and drop-off addresses, trip purpose, and any disability accommodations ready when calling.

Contact & Details

Phone: 855-272-7433

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

About Transportation for Fathers

Transportation assistance helps fathers get to work, court, medical appointments, and childcare. Public transit passes are often available free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and social service agencies. Many job training programs cover bus passes. The Ways to Work program and some community action agencies provide low-interest car loans to working parents. State DMVs typically require proof of insurance and current registration; low-cost insurance programs exist for low-income drivers in several states (California's Low Cost Auto Insurance is one example). For rural fathers without reliable transit, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs are coordinated through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. Medicaid NEMT covers rides to covered medical visits at no cost. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance programs.

Transportation in Arkansas

Arkansas circuit courts hear family law matters in all 75 counties, with the Office of Child Support Enforcement under the Department of Finance and Administration. Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville are the largest metros. Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services provide free civil representation to eligible fathers statewide.

More Transportation in Arkansas

  • Ozark Regional Transit – NW Arkansas — Public fixed-route bus service connecting Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, and surrounding northwest Arkansas communities. Fat
  • Fort Smith Transit — City-operated public bus system serving Fort Smith with fixed routes to employment centers, schools, medical facilities, and shopping. Fathe
  • DAV Transportation – Arkansas VA — Disabled American Veterans volunteer drivers provide free rides for Arkansas veterans to VA medical appointments, coordinating with VA Volun
  • ArDOT – Arkansas Public Transit — Arkansas Department of Transportation office overseeing state transit programs and rural transportation funding, including agencies that ser
  • South Central Arkansas Transit — Regional public transit provider serving south central Arkansas counties with fixed-route, demand-response, and medical transportation servi
  • Jonesboro Economical Transit System (JETS) — City of Jonesboro's public fixed-route bus system serving key corridors and destinations across the city, including employment centers, scho

Transportation — Common Questions

Can I get help affording a car?
Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.
What is Medicaid NEMT?
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).
Are there reduced-fare transit options?
Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.
What if I live in a rural area with no bus?
Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.