SPRINGDALE -- Local planners have narrowed the list of transportation projects to receive money under a federal program.
About $7.9 million comes to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission from the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program to be used for regionally significant projects. Regional significance is defined as an improvement to major routes and frontage roads that improve access and reduce crash rates.
Show me the money
The Northwest Arkansas metro area became eligible July 18, 2012, for a share of federal Surface Transportation Block Grant 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 composed of representatives from Benton and Washington counties and each city in the counties.
Source: Staff report
Plans and studies may be included as regional projects.
Regional planning functions as the metropolitan planning organization for Northwest Arkansas and McDonald County, Mo. It's responsible for doling out the money to governmental entities that are members of the planning commission.
A local 20 percent match is required. In years past, some of the requests have received only partial funding. Some projects have received money over multiple years.
A committee was formed to review $32 million worth of requests and make recommendations on which proposals should get money. Those findings were presented Thursday morning to the Technical Advisory Committee.
The committee recommended the full planning commission approve the list next week.
The recommended requests:
• Bella Vista, $2.4 million for Mercy Way bridge and road improvements.
• Benton County, $100,000 the Wagon Wheel Road bridge project.
• Farmington, $2.3 million for Arkansas 170 improvements.
• Fayetteville, $2.2 million for the extension of Sain Street.
• Lowell, $96,000 for the extension of South Dixieland Street.
• Rogers, $300,000 for J.B. Hunt Road improvement.
• Springdale and Johnson, $300,000 for improvements to Gene George Boulevard from Don Tyson Parkway to Johnson Mill Boulevard.
About $500,000 was also available for transportation alternative programs -- basically trails, sidewalks and bike paths. There were $1.6 million in requests.
The recommended requests:
• Centerton, $250,000 for McKissic Creek Trail extension.
• Springdale, $250,000 for Spring Creek Trail, which is a partnering project with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as part of the regional nature center that is being built in the northwest corner of town.
NW News on 07/19/2019