Fayetteville mayor says 2025 laid foundation for city's future work

Mayor Molly Rawn said 2025 focused on building foundations and trust, noting faster permitting and steps on affordable housing; she also announced the 2026 budget includes a 40% increase for public transit and a goal to add shelters and benches to every bus stop by 2028.

Molly Rawn delivered the State of the City address saying 2025 was about laying foundations and building trust across Fayetteville. She described meeting residents, touring job sites and listening to community concerns. Housing, infrastructure and city culture were recurring themes in last year’s conversations. Rawn said those efforts were intended to prepare the city to move forward. Key points: - The mayor said the city reestablished its relationship with the Fayetteville Housing Authority and added a chief housing officer. - The city now requires conditional use permits for student-purpose housing developments and added engineering and development staff. - Rawn said residential building, apartment and grading permits were issued faster in 2025, which helped projects finish earlier. - The 2026 budget includes a 40% increase in funds for public transit, according to the mayor. - The city has a goal to add a bus shelter and bench to every Fayetteville bus stop by the end of 2028. - The contract for NWA Pride was renewed for another five years, Experience Fayetteville's CEO said. Summary: Rawn described 2025 as a year of steady, foundational work intended to improve housing processes, preserve city culture and strengthen services. The city plans to focus on transportation in 2026, with increased transit funding and the shelter-by-2028 goal noted as next steps. Additional long-term outcomes were reported as the result of continued, incremental efforts.