Is it feasible?

Rapid transit uncertain as long as funding is

Feasibility is an interesting word. It’s among the favorites in the halls

of government. Communities, states and the federal government spend millions every year on consultations and deliberations to determine the feasibility of a new highway, a pipeline, a recycling or trash-hauling service, a water park or a publicly owned sports venue.

We often hear the cynic’s view that one can make statistics say anything he wants. If there’s any truth to that, it’s even more true for every proposed project, there’s someone out there who will determine it’s feasible.

When something is feasible, Merriam-Webster says, it’s “capable of being done or carried out.”

That can cover a lot of territory. It’s feasible that the Hogs can play three football games a year at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. It’s feasible a Democrat will be elected this year to represent the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s feasible the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, could offer a concealed-carry handgun course.

But is any of that going to realistically happen? Highly unlikely.

Northwest Arkansas leaders interested in development of a specialized bus route along U.S. 71B through the region recently opined that such a project is feasible. What’s been suggested is a rapid transit system that, through traffic signal prioritization and an abundance of buses, could make riding buses more attractive by making waits short and allowing the vehicles to get through intersections quickly.

A pilot program is estimated to cost $20 million, with $3.2 million in annual operating costs.

And thus endeth the lesson of the difference between feasibility and probability.

Joel Gardner, executive director of Ozark Regional Transit, the region’s skeletal bus system, knows what’s it’s like to nurse along a service struggling to gain adequate financial support from local government. Grants are great, he said, but why devote the capital if the operational funding is going to require constantly scraping up money? With no long-term strategy for funding, feasibility would meet the realities of economics pretty quickly.

“Don’t put something out there that’s half-baked,” said consultant Ken Hosen. “Do it right or wait ’til you get the money to do it right.”

We’re convinced Northwest Arkansas needs more reliable mass transit for the future, not less. But could it be this idea is just a bit ahead of its time given attitudes about transportation in the region? We’d say that’s feasible.