Planners hear suggestions from residents

Committee starting work on 2045 transportation plan

ROGERS — Benton County residents got a chance Wednesday to tell regional planners what they want to see in a future regional transportation plan and a 10-year public transit plan.

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission is starting work on a 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The plan will provide a long-range, comprehensive look at the region’s transportation needs, including highways, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Tim Conklin with Regional Planning said they’re updating the 2040 plan.

“I think most people in the region realize that we’re rapidly growing and there’s an opportunity to provide input on the front end of this process,” Conklin said. “Over the next year, we’ll be updating the plans, and we want to hear what they’re interested in and how to improve transportation for all modes. We’re really hoping we can have a lot of public input and make sure we’re moving in the right direction as a region.”

Jerry Carmichael of Rogers said he’s interested in how planners are going to try and move an estimated 1 million people in 25 years and wanted to be engaged in the planning process.

“Obviously, we need to talk about transportation, how important it is to our region,” Carmichael said. “It’s not necessarily one community when you look at the entirety of Northwest Arkansas. I just think that infrastructure is so important to continue the growth

that we’ve got, we’ve got to move people around. I was just curious what’s on the board today, but also what is being planned. Where are we going? That’s why I came.”

Regional Planning had poster boards and maps available describing population and growth trends; recent and ongoing road projects; the 2045 proposed road network; and the regional bicycle and pedestrian master plan.

They also had a short opinion survey, and planning staff was available to take comments and answer questions.

At the same time, planners and public transit providers are working on a 10-year, regional development plan, called Connect Northwest Arkansas. Alliance Transportation Group is the consulting firm commissioned by Regional Planning to do the $280,000 study and transit plan.

A public transit plan for the region was last adopted in 2010.

New bus routes have been developed for participating cities, based on where people want to go and when. Those plans should improve connections, save riders time and provide a solid foundation for development. Alliance and regional planners

have worked with Razorback Transit, Ozark Regional Transit and the cities to develop the proposed routes.

Tim Simon, staff member with Alliance, said the study will recommend regional goals and objectives, routes, local and regional money sources, performance measures and targets, levels of service and what areas should be served by public transit.

Plans will be developed specifically for Ozark Regional Transit and the University of Arkansas’ Razorback Transit to define their roles in a regional system, Simon said.