XNA road needs to be a priority, council says
HIGHFILL — The Northwest Arkansas Council is asking the governor and Transportation Department officials to make an access road to the regional airport a priority in a new highway improvement package approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
Nelson Peacock, CEO of the nonprofit organization, sent a letter to Gov. Asa Hutchinson pledging to support the passage of a one half a percent sales tax extension to pay for part of the governor’s overall plan. The tax question goes to the voters in November 2020.
Peacock said the council, which is comprised of executives from the region’s largest companies, schools and health care systems, will be working with the state Department of Transportation in coming months to identify high priority projects of regional significance.
“One project that will be among the highest on that priority list will be the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport access road,” Peacock wrote to the governor. “XNA enplanements continue to grow despite the nonexistence of a dedicated, safe road to access the airport. Providing a direct, safer route would help XNA continue to grow, promote more convenient access for regional residents and help catalyze further economic development of the region.”
Enplanements at XNA in June set a record, according to airport officials.
Peacock said population projections show Northwest Arkansas will be one of the fastest-growing areas in the state in coming years, and steps need to be taken now to accommodate that growth.
“The project, as currently envisioned, will stimulate economic growth in Benton County because the project will be an important component of establishing a western transportation corridor for Northwest Arkansas,” Peacock wrote.
Aaron Burkes, CEO at XNA, said officials are grateful for the support from Northwest Arkansas’ business leaders and specifically from the Northwest Arkansas Council.
“The Council has played a crucial role in the airport’s success since its inception,” Burkes said by email Friday. “The economic development impact from intermodal connectivity with XNA is tremendous, and the Council understands how important this project is to our region.”
Burkes said Hutchinson’s support for an access road dates back to before the airport even opened.
“He succeeded in getting $16 million in federal funding back in 1998 for the connecting roadway,” Burkes said. “With the Governor’s support, we are growing confident we can get this critically important project constructed for the benefit of Northwest Arkansans.”
The Transportation Department recently offered to design the access road. The department was already handling the required environmental study for it.
Airport officials think the department’s offer will speed up the process of building the road, after some 20 years of frustration. An estimated cost for the project hasn’t been determined.
Philip Taldo, who serves on the airport board and is also a state highway commissioner, said recently he favors the department building whatever road is decided upon.
“My personal opinion is we don’t need to be in the highway building business,” Taldo said.
The original plan for the airport authority to build and pay for a long driveway to the airport, from U.S. 612 at Elm Springs, is being shelved in favor of a road running near XNA that could end up being a highway around the airport with an exit.
“This is a two-for-one because this is going to help build the start of a western corridor as we work to accommodate all the growth out in western Benton County,” Peacock said.
The Transportation Department has authorized a study of the area west of Interstate 49 to identify the need for, and feasibility of, a western connection between the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass and the Bella Vista Bypass.
The study will look at possible road alternatives in the vicinity of the airport. While the goal is better north/south traffic flow through the region, airport officials would like to be able to connect an access road to any new construction in the area. A study in 2011 found a western beltway from the Bella Vista Bypass to I-49 in the Greenland area will be needed, but said there was no money identified to pay for the project. The new study will likely look at the northern part of that proposed corridor.
Peacock said the council works to identify projects and initiatives that will have a significant impact on the region.
“This is an example where we’ve come together with the airport and with regional planning and other groups, ARDoT and our highway commissioners, and we’re working through that process,” Peacock said. “So, I’d say this is an example of how Northwest Arkansas comes together to identify and pursue those projects that we need to get done.”