SPRINGDALE -- A regional planning committee reviewed a list of projects in Northwest Arkansas for 2017 that will be paid for with federal transportation money.
Tim Conklin with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission told members of its Technical Advisory Committee the numbers in the proposal are based on what planners expect the area to receive next fiscal year.
Following the money
Here’s a closer look at some of the 2017 regional transportation projects expected to receive federal money through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. A local match is required.
• Bentonville: $500,000 for construction of left turn lanes at 12th Street and Tiger Boulevard.
• Bentonville: $1 million for construction of a right turn lane on Southwest I Street and Arkansas 102.
• Fayetteville: $2.4 million for relocating Rupple Road from Starry Night View to Mt. Comfort Road.
• Fayetteville: $160,000 for right-of-way and utility extensions for the extension of Sain Street from North Frontage Road to Vantage Boulevard.
• Lowell: $800,000 for right-of-way, utilities and construction of an extension to South Dixieland Road from Arkansas 264 to Apple Blossom Road.
• Centerton: $640,000 for right-of-way, utilities and construction of intersection improvements at Arkansas 102B and Seba Road.
• Farmington: $600,000 for right-of-way for Arkansas 170 improvements between U.S. 62 and Clyde Carnes Road.
• Bella Vista: $256,000 for design and environmental study for the widening of Mercy Way to four lanes.
• Razorback Transit and Ozark Regional Transit: $200,000 for new buses.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission
Jeff Hawkins, executive director, said part of the federal highway money has been released by Congress. Hawkins said he expects to receive about the same amount as last year, around $7 million.
"Stay tuned," Conklin said. "The money is not in the bank."
The Northwest Arkansas metro area became eligible July 18, 2012, for a share of federal Surface Transportation Program money for regionally significant projects after the urban population surpassed 200,000. The money is administered by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, serving as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is made of representatives from Benton and Washington counties and each city in the counties.
The 2017 projects were first identified about two years ago after the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department went to a two-year planning cycle. The change was made to assure projects are lined up and ready to go when the money is available. If a project cannot be obligated in time, the money will be redistributed if possible to other projects that are ready.
Ozark Regional Transit and Razorback Transit traditionally split money with 55 percent going to Ozark Regional Transit and 45 percent to University of Arkansas Razorback Transit. That split could change based on need in the future, Conklin said.
Regional Planning gets about $200,000 a year for planning services.
About $480,000 a year is dedicated to trails and alternative transportation projects such as bike lanes. Bella Vista is expected to receive some $236,000 for Riordan Road Trailhead construction, and Cave Springs is expected to receive some $243,000 for trail construction.
The full regional planning commission will review the projects next week.
Also Thursday, the committee recommended approval of an amendment to the region's Transportation Improvement Program at the request of state highway officials. The change was made to reflect shifting an overlay project from Arkansas 102 to U.S. 412 in Benton County.
Paul Simms, with the Highway Department, said engineers looked at what roads in the area needed help the most and decided on U.S. 412.
NW News on 01/20/2017