I love following the news. It’s grander and less predictable than any novel or reality TV, and it’s happening everywhere.
The Northwest Arkansas transportation story has intensified recently, and as in any good story the ending is enigmatic. It involves fascinating characters, two counties, changing times, democracy, money and power. And anyone can participate.
CHAPTER 1: The highway builders. In 1990 the rich, powerful and private Northwest Arkansas Council appointed itself as regional transportation organizer. It helped complete the Interstate 540 bypass around Fayetteville in 1993 and I-540 from Bentonville to Fort Smith in 1999. Some members profited from investments in developments at Pinnacle Hills and elsewhere along the bypass. News articles cited these developments as the cause of a big jump in I-540 traff c fatalities and congestion.
Today, the bypass is congested with cars generated by these sprawling developments, causing the council to callfor widening the bypass to a Los Angeles-style eight lanes, plus a new “Western Beltway” through the Ozark National Forest to bypass the bypass. Council member’s trucks are bogged down by traff c generated by their own sprawling development along the fi rst bypass. In 1999 Walmart built its distribution center west of Bentonville, and in 2005 the Regional Planning Commission began talking up the Western Beltway, which will pass near the distribution center.
The council along with its creation, the Regional Mobility Authority, is mostly about cars. Although individual council members do many good things (arts centers, galleries, trails) for the region, the council’s transportation advice lacks vision.
CHAPTER 2: New mayors come to Fayetteville.
In 2000, Fayetteville’s leadership passed from oldfashioned highway builders to progressives who favored compact development, walkability, bicycles, trails, buses and rail. City planning documents passed in 2004 and 2006 embodied these “new urbanism” principles.
New leaders elected in 2008 maintained these trends.
There was talk of commuter rail, a project that could be fi nanced by the council’s planned $750 million for the beltway and I-540 widening.
The times, they were achangin’.
CHAPTER 3: Transit comes to Northwest Arkansas. Washington County established Ozark Regional Transit in 1978, mainly for rural transportation. It became an agency in 2001 and soon hired Executive Director Philip Pumphrey who established regular urban routes. Transit is an underdog amid the region’s car culture, but it’s broadly supported as an exciting and refreshing alternative to automobiles that helps the environment and benefits the underprivileged.
However, current routes and bus frequencies arefar too sparse.
CHAPTER 4: The council tangles with ORT. In 2010, ORT’s public board voted to set a two-county election for a quarter-cent sales tax for a greatly expanded transit system. Surveys in 2010 showed strong Washington and Benton county support, and surveys in 2011 showed huge (two-to-one) support.
In an 11 to 1 vote in March 2011, the Washington County Quorum Court tentatively authorized the transit tax election. But in Benton County - Walmart country - the quorum court voted in June against authorizing that election despite the overwhelmingly favorable polls.
Meanwhile, Arkansas proposed a half-cent statewide sales tax election for a four-lane highway network, including widening I-540 to eight lanes. The council supports the statewide highway tax but opposes the regional transit tax, arguing it would interfere with the statewide tax. Last month, the council’s man Mike Malone suggested the Washington County Quorum Court cancel their previous election plans.
Many folks regard this as arrogant and wrong. Twodays later, the quorum court refused Malone’s suggestion by moving ahead with the first of three readings of an ordinance calling for a May 22 election.
The two sides tangled again at a Regional Mobility Authority meeting when Malone called for a regional approach, knowing the transit tax couldn’t meet this condition because of Benton County’s opposition. The council dearly desires to prevent any kind of vote on a transit tax. The Regional Mobility Authority listens closely to the council.
Pumphrey and former Springdale mayor Jerre Van Hoose argued that Ozark Regional Transit needed the tax and Washington County appeared to favorthe election.
CHAPTER 5: To vote or not to vote? That is the question. On Feb. 9, the Washington County Quorum Court read the election ordinance for the second time. The place was packed, and citizens testifi ed (at three minutes each) for over two hours. Comments ran 4-to-1 for the election.
Indications were that the final vote will be close.
That vote approaches.
Will the quorum court let the people vote? Will the council win a shutoft of the vote? Be at the new County Courthouse at 6 p.m. March 8 for the answers.
ART HOBSON IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
Opinion, Pages 15 on 02/19/2012