SPRINGDALE -- Regional planners hosted a public forum Thursday to exchange ideas and discuss which transportation projects will be done in Northwest Arkansas through 2022.
Some examples of projects on the list include completing Interstate 49 and related improvements, work on making Arkansas 112 a traffic corridor, extending the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass and widening Arkansas 16 between Fayetteville and Elkins.
Dennis Shaw attended with his wife, Evelyn, and said he wanted to take the opportunity to see what's in store for the region.
"We're just curious about what's happening in Northwest Arkansas," the Johnson resident said. "It's developing rapidly and we just wanted to see how things are being planned for that potential growth. I'm a curious person."
An additional public comment period will begin today and run until 5 p.m. July 19.
All comments will be reported to regional planners, the Arkansas Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Transportation.
The Arkansas Transportation Department uses the information to identify and prioritize projects as set by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. Its mission is to develop and maintain the Transportation Improvement Plan for the metropolitan area.
The plan includes information on each project, including the type of work, the estimated cost and funding category, the agency doing the project and the fiscal year the project is expected to occur.
The projects are developed from the larger list of projects in the region's 2040 plan.
The Draft Transportation Improvement Plan document and corresponding map are available for review at the regional planning office. Copies can be mailed upon request or viewed at nwarpc.org. Written comments are encouraged via mail, the comment tab available on the regional planning website or calling Celia Scott-Silkwood at (479) 751-7125 ext. 106.
NW News on 07/06/2018