The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission will begin updating the region's long-range transportation master plan Thursday and planners want to hear what residents have to say.
The 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan will replace the 2035 NWA Regional Transportation Plan. The plan provides a long-range, comprehensive look at transportation needs and implementation strategies for highways, transit, bicycle and pedestrian paths.
"We want to assess what the public thinks and what they want to see in the future, both the short and long-term," said John McLarty, senior planner. "It's a yearlong process."
The commission's Policy Committee adopted the 2035 Plan on April 7, 2011. The plan is updated every five years.
McLarty said it is anticipated the population of Benton and Washington counties will be about 750,000 by 2040.
"One of our challenges is to have a transportation system that is ready for it," McLarty said.
The planning process begins Thursday with an open house from noon to 6:30 p.m. at the Regional Planning offices, 1311 Clayton St. in Springdale to kick off the public input process.
The open house will highlight the current plan's recommendations, arterial network, and regional trail system among other displays.
Residents with an opinion on the region's current and future transportation matters or concerns are urged to attend. Surveys and comment cards will be available. Staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Visit the NWARPC website www.nwarpc.org to see the 2035 Plan. For more information, call 479-751-7125 or email [email protected].
NW News on 09/14/2014