Advocate: Group pushing integrated transit system

Our group, Ozark Rail and Bus Transit, is working to put Arkansas back on track. We are grassroots community advocates for an integrated, eco-friendly and fiscally responsible mass transit system.

By integrated, I mean bikes, buses, and rail work together to create more transportation choices for the people of Northwest Arkansas.

By eco friendly, I mean we advocate for all buses and trains to use battery electric motors. Our goal is to use solar or wind power to recharge our vehicles.

By fiscally responsible, I don’t want to see this put an additional tax burden on the region. We want to spend our money wisely.

Right now we are spending $1 billion to $1.2 billion in taxes to build highways. About 2 percent of that is spent on transit. ORBT advocates that we use a greater percentage of taxes to fund mass transit. We are talking about 9 percent, about $100 million. You might say “Not yet,” but the time is right. Here is why: Northwest Arkanss growth vastly exceeds every other sector of the state in traffic congestion and urban sprawl, leading to longer commutes to work, loss of production and increased carbon pollution. The time to address these problems could never be better. If we plan well, we can manage growth, meet the needs of our people and spend less doing it.

If we wait, the costs can go up by 10 times. This is based on the experience of cities like Dallas and Seattle.

Let’s put our heads together and promote good public policy that benefits everyone. Our

proposals are orthodox and follow best practices. Look us up on Facebook and join the discussion.

RICHARD BILLINGSLEY Fayetteville Founder, ORBT