A last-minute scramble salvaged $3.2 million of federal money for the proposed 36-mile Razorback Greenway trail through Northwest Arkansas.
Construction could begin as soon as August.
John McLarty, senior transportation planner for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, got word just after 4 p.m. Friday the money had been secured.
It was a race against the clock because a continuing federal budget resolution containing the grant money was set to expire at midnight. There was no guarantee the money would be in a future budget.
“I am going to have a great weekend. That loud shout you just heard came from the regional planning office,” McLarty said. “It’s a big deal for Northwest Arkansas. Razorback Greenway just took a huge step forward.”
The trail, which will connect Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville with a paved pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists, is expected to cost $30 million to $40 million.
The Walton Family Foundation pledged a matching $15 million for the project. Friday’s announcement should help secure the Walton money, Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said.
Local cyclists expect the trail system will see lots of use.
“I can’t wait. I ride for transportation and lately I’ve been having to ride periodically from Fayetteville to Springdale and I know some people who commute to Rogers,” said Laura Kelly, chairwoman of the Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks, a cycling advocacy group. “People actually do ride their bikes long distances for transportation and a greenway like this is going to be an incredible boon. And, of course, there’s the recreational aspect. It will become a tourism focus for a lot of healthy recreation.”
Money for the trail appeared to be in jeopardy as Democrats and Republicans battled over the budget and a federal government shutdown loomed.
But, regional planners refused to say uncle. They realized the grant money was still available and moved the entire project up by a year.
They spent the last three weeks turning a rough draft into a finished grant proposal. Assessment teams from state and federal agencies ended the week bushwacking to inspect historic sites and environmentally sensitive areas to make sure the trail would not impact them. Then the race was on to get state and federal officials to sign off on the project.
“It’s extraordinary. I’ve never seen anything move this fast with so many agencies involved,” McLarty said. “Usually, slow going is the norm.”
By getting the agreement signed before a new budget resolution or government shutdown, the federal transportation money is considered obligated and the project under way. When there’s agreement on this year’s budget, officials will know if the rest of the money for the project is available.
Getting the money required a concerted effort by regional planners, the Federal Highway Administration, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Office, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, McLarty said.
“I’ve got to compliment the team that accomplished this, because it’s pretty uncommon in today’s bureaucratic world to pull off a last-minute push like they did,” said Bob McCaslin, Bentonville mayor.
The first $3.2 million, along with an $800,000 local match will pay for engineering, design and right of way acquisition.
Money for subsequent phases is subject to the grant program being preserved and available in a future federal budget.
“It kind of leads the way to the rest of it, unless they rescind it,” McLarty said. “You get that $3.2 million and everything starts moving forward. The idea is that if you can get it started, I guess it might make it less likely that they would rescind, but Congress can do anything they want to.”
Bids could be let on two sections of trail in the Rogers area by late June. Those sections are the closest to being ready to go and construction could begin in August.
Another $1.8 million could be available by the end of July.
The bid package for the rest of the trail could be ready to let by the end of August.
The remaining $12 million, which includes a $2 million local match, could be available before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
“It’s an ambitious schedule,” McLarty said.
The federal money will be used on a 16-mile section in Springdale, Lowell and Rogers.
The trail throughout its length would be 12-feet wide and paved with asphalt or concrete.