NWA planners seek input on transportation projects

SPRINGDALE — Regional planners are hosting a public forum Thursday to exchange ideas about transportation projects in Northwest Arkansas through 2022.

The forum will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning office, 1311 Clayton St. in Springdale.

“The main reason to attend the public forum is to speak with staff about the Transportation Improvement Plan projects and get more information about them, and to give staff comments and feedback about the projects,” said Celia Scott-Silkwood. “We’ll have large maps available that identify the project locations and also comment cards for written comments.”

All comments will be reported to regional planners, the Arkansas Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Transportation.

The state Transportation Department uses the study to identify priority projects as set by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. Its mission is to develop and maintain a regional transportation plan for the metropolitan area.

The Transportation Improvement 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 plan’s projects are developed from the larger list of projects in the region’s 2040 plan.

An additional public comment period will begin on Friday and run until 5 p.m. July 19.

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.