FAYETTEVILLE — Planners have identified where money for several highway and trail projects will come from and want the 2035 Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Plan amended to reflect the new income.
“In the long-range plan we had clearly identified these needs but didn’t have the funding for them,” said John McLarty, senior planner.
The Technical Advisory Committee recommended Thursday the full Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission identify in the plan the source of money for a new federal trails program. Three federal programs, the Transportation Enhancements Program, Recreational Trails Program and Safe Routes to School Program, have been combined into what is now called the Transportation Alternatives Program.
Eighty percent of the money for the program will come from the federal government. The 20 percent local match is reimbursable. The region should get about $472,600 this year. The money will be available each year as appropriated by Congress.
The program is expected to provide money for two trail projects this year — the Mercy Medical Center trailhead in Rogers and the Town Branch trail in Fayetteville. There will be an annual application process for future projects.
At A Glance
Planning For The Future
The 2035 Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Plan is used to develop highways, trails and transit systems in Benton and Washington counties. It outlines needs, funding strategies, financial constraints, environmental factors and spending priorities.
Source: Staff Report
The committee also recommended adding the source of money for the Connecting Arkansas Program to the plan. The program is using the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in the fall to pay for $1.8 billion in highway projects statewide, including adding new four-lanes and widening roads. Projects in Northwest Arkansas are expected to receive about $375 million.
Projects include widening Interstate 540 between Fayetteville and Bentonville and interchange improvements; completion of two lanes of the Bella Vista Bypass; and beginning construction of the U.S. 412 Springdale Bypass from Interstate 540 to Arkansas 112 and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport connector road.
The amendments will go out for public comment before going to the full commission for approval.
In a related conversation, highway officials said construction is continuing to go well on the Bella Vista Bypass sections and right of way acquisition is ongoing for the Springdale Bypass project.
Dick Trammel, highway commissioner, said he also expects bids to be let in the next couple of months for proposed improvement to Arkansas 264 in north Springdale as well as bids for improvement to a section of U.S. 62 between Avoca and Garfield. Bids also are expected to be opened soon for the Don Tyson interchange with I-540 in Springdale.
McLarty also said two sections of the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Greenway in Rogers are done and another is in the process. An agreement has been reached with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department allowing a tunnel under I-540 in Rogers to extend the trail system west of the interstate.
“I think it will all be under construction by the end of 2013,” McLarty said.
Two sections of trail, in north Springdale and south Rogers, are about ready to go to bid, McLarty said. Right of way acquisition for trail sections in Springdale and Lowell is in final stages. Construction on a locally funded portion of the Clear Creek section of trail in Johnson also is well under way.
McLarty said he expects work to be under way on all the federally paid for sections of the greenway by July and to wrap up late this year or early next year.
“There’s just lots of things going on,” said Patsy Christie, committee chairwoman. “It’s a busy, busy region.”