FAYETTEVILLE — The Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority hopes to become a big player in regional transportation circles by taking the lead to get highway projects funded and built.
“I think it’s going to take a very bold approach,” said Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan.
AT A GLANCE
Regional Mobility Authority
Governmental agencies that can build, operate, maintain, expand or pay for transportation projects in their regions. Formed in March 2008, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority is the first, and to date, only regional mobility authority in the state.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority
The group, which includes mayors and county judges from Washington and Benton counties, has access to multiple funding sources, but members said they really like the idea of toll roads.
“This group will be instrumental in instituting the first tollway in Arkansas,” said Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin.
State law allows the authority to receive money from tolls; county or city sales taxes, if approved by voters; motor vehicle fees; turnback funds from member cities and counties; bus and parking fares; and state and federal highway funding.
At a workshop Tuesday, the authority said they want to see at least three projects go forward as soon as possible: widening and interchange improvements to Interstate 540, the proposed Bella Vista bypass and the proposed U.S. 412 bypass around Springdale.
“What’s the greatest chance of making one of these three happen and where’s the greatest need?” said McCaslin, the authority’s chairman.
An intelligent transportation system, which includes sensors embedded in I-540 to monitor and manage traffic flow and send messages to drivers, is on the list as well, but received a cooler reception.
The major goal of the group is to find ways to pay for highway projects by matching state or federal money with local money. Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse, Jordan and McCaslin said they were intrigued by toll roads but don’t think a city or regional sales tax is viable given the economic and political climates.
Bonding, based on a local or regional sales tax, would also depend on what state law allows development authorities to do. State law does not appear to allow a regional mobility authority to issue bonds but, perhaps, counties could do so on their behalf or the law can be amended. There are also questions about how a sales tax election involving two counties would work and concerns about how costs would be allocated.
McCaslin said motorists are willing to pay for convenience, and toll roads allow projects to be built faster and, in many cases, cheaper than a pay-as-you-go approach.
The group asked employees of its consulting firm, Jacobs, to devise several funding scenarios.
They are monitoring the state Legislature to see what highway money options may come out of the legislative session.
The authority is to meet again in April.