Rogers updates street plan, eyes bond issue vote

Harry Gonzales of Second Nature Landscaping (center) helps dig holes to plant Chinese pistachio trees Friday along Arkansas Street near the new roundabout on Walnut Avenue west of Interstate 49 in Rogers. Rogers Mayor Greg Hines says the city will ask voters to extend the sales tax to pay for another package of street improvement bonds. Rogers voters approved a bond issue in 2011 that included more than $100 million for streets plus money for parks and other amenities.
Harry Gonzales of Second Nature Landscaping (center) helps dig holes to plant Chinese pistachio trees Friday along Arkansas Street near the new roundabout on Walnut Avenue west of Interstate 49 in Rogers. Rogers Mayor Greg Hines says the city will ask voters to extend the sales tax to pay for another package of street improvement bonds. Rogers voters approved a bond issue in 2011 that included more than $100 million for streets plus money for parks and other amenities.

ROGERS -- Rogers officials are updating the city's master street plan as part of the preparation needed to present a major bond issue proposal to voters later this year.

Mayor Greg Hines said the city has a preliminary street plan on its website and has been getting some feedback from residents.

Street plan

Rogers proposed new master street plan can be viewed on the city’s website at http://Rogersar.Gov…">Rogersar.Gov/Street….

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"We're in a planning phase right now," Hines said. "That's part and parcel of why we're doing this. Our thinking is 'Let's get some data and let the data drive the process.'"

Hines said the city last did a "full-out" master street plan 12 or 13 years ago. It has been revised and updated since.

"We try as best we can to keep it up to date," he said. "If development occurs in an area, it's important for our Planning Commission and City Council to follow our growth comprehensive plan and street plan."

Hines said Rogers voters approved a $135 million bond issue in 2011, which included more than $100 million in street improvements. Voters extended a 1 percent city sales tax to pay for the bond issue. Other money from the bond paid for police and fire vehicles, parks and trails, including an aquatic center and sports park. The city also paid off a bond issue approved by voters in 2003.

The parks proposal received the lowest approval margin, and it passed with 76 percent voting in favor. The remaining issues were approved by more than 80 percent of voters.

Hines said most of the work in the 2011 list is done.

He said he expects to have a proposal ready for the City Council in May with an eye on a special election in late summer.

John McCurdy, Rogers' director of community development, said the city needs to address growth-related traffic and transportation safety issues. He pointed to areas in southwestern Rogers and the northeastern part of the city as two likely to get major projects.

The preliminary plan posted on the city's website shows both areas slated for major arterial and minor arterial streets added to the city's grid.

Other street work is proposed throughout the city. McCurdy said the city has been gathering traffic counts and safety-related information for every major intersection. The plan will base some recommendations on that history and some on projected growth.

"We're trying to be as efficient as we can in our infrastructure and land-use planning so we don't choke our corridors with unplanned growth," McCurdy said.

Ben Cline, the city's public relations director, said people were submitting feedback on the city's street proposals.

Jeff Greenwald, of 5209 S. 56th St., was pleased with the addition of new trails in the plan.

"I live in The Ivey's and am excited to see a future trail connecting the southwest corner of the city in the revised master plan," Greenwald said.

Other comments varied, with some residents not wanting connector streets running through their neighborhoods. One asked for a left turn arrow at the intersection of 13th Street and Dixieland Road, near Oakdale Middle School, to help with traffic flow.

Other area cities have similar bond issue programs that pay for large-scale improvements, with streets getting the bulk of the attention.

Springdale voters approved a $224.6 million bond issue proposal in February. Voters also extended an existing 1 percent city sales tax to pay for the bonds.

Street improvements were earmarked to receive the largest part of the money, about $92.7 million. Another $42.5 million was designated for a new criminal justice center for police and courts and to renovate the city's administration building. Three fire stations are expected to be built at an estimated cost of $17.6 million. About $21.3 million is planned for parks and trails.

Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said voters approved a bond issue in 2003 that focused on improving three major east-west corridors and extended it to build Arvest Ballpark. The city refinanced the bonds in 2013, saving about $12 million in interest, he said.

"We're very grateful we had such a strong showing of support," Sprouse said. "When you have a fast-growing region, it's really the only way to address that growth."

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan said the city is nearing the end of a bond issue program approved by voters in 2007, and he is considering a proposal for sometime next year.

Paul Becker, Fayetteville's chief financial officer, said the 2007 bond issue included about $110 million in projects, with transportation needs getting about $65.9 million; water and sewer improvements about $42 million; and $2.1 million earmarked for trails.

Jordan said he will seek input from the City County and the public before any proposal is set.

"I've got a relatively good list," he said. "My short list includes money for roads, sidewalks and trails; money for public transit; drainage; the arts corridor; police and fire expansions, and parks improvements. But we won't even be looking at anything before this time next year."

Bentonville's Mayor Bob McCaslin said his city is also wrapping up a bond issue program approved by voters in 2007. The $110 million plan included about $85 million for streets; $15 million for parks; about $4.75 million each for police and fire improvements; and about $750,000 for work at the municipal airport.

McCaslin said he won't propose a new plan this year, his last in office, and predicted the city will probably be looking at a bond issue in 2020.

NW News on 03/25/2018

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