itk

When I did a google for 4100 Sunset, it showed the location near the new Lowe's-- is there some space left over there? That would make sense.

The only major one I can think of right now is the widening of Gregg from Fulbright north to the existing 4-lanes (wasn't that opened real recently?).

The bids for that project last month were all rejected because they were too high. Big surprise (this wasn't reported by the media). So I think AHTD will re-evaluate that and perhaps try again this fall. I've been wanting to see that stretch widened for years... guess we'll just have to wait some more, unfortunately.

Must've been in the new Transportation Appropriations Bill... but, I can't find it in the reports or bills on the LOC website. Must've been a very recent addition-- I'd like to know how much they supposedly got.

My understanding is that the developers supposedly were going to entirely fund the Shackleford overpass/interchange widening and improvements. When the City of LR will start, I'm not sure.

I think some of you all in NWA on this board might be interested in this-- the updated Arkansas highway plan (techincally a draft still) has been posted on the www.arkansashighways.com website front page (pdf). I didn't realize this was going to be made public so soon, but this may be of definite interest to some of you wondering what projects in NWA may get funded in the near future (10 years). This study/plan document basically states, if you don't want to read it all, that there's about $19 billion of identified transportation needs in the next 10 years in Arkansas, and only about $4 billion of projected revenue (you can do the math, p. 51). Additionally, it discusses future possible revenue sources that may, just may, get explored some by the next legislative session (pp.40-). Finally, a 10-yr highway plan is outlined (pp.59-) that shows which projects (or portions thereof) are included in the plan, and further projects above and beyond that (unfunded) that may, just may, get funded in the 10 year time frame if new revenue sources become available. Thought you all might be interested; though keep in mind this is just a plan, nothing definite or written in stone. Things change all the time, but as you can see, AHTD is definitely working hard on this, they don't have it easy with such limited funding (check out the chart on p.34)-- especially with construction costs continually going through the roof, and they try to address the major pressing needs in NWA as much as possible (such as Springdale bypass and I-540).

I always wondered who lived in that house on that hill. That's got to be a great view. From looking on Google Earth, if it is indeed across from the nursery, then it can't be that big. It's bordered by Hwy 45 to the north, Park Place to the east, the old Dillon's grocery to the west, and that older neighborhood on that ridge to the south. But, great location, and it would be interesting to see what type of "urban" neighborhood that would, I assume, take advantage of the terrain and the view.

Do you mean that large development near Goshen in the valley (off of Mission/Hwy 45)? The one with the neo-medieval-whatever fortress wall?

I find Maumelle creepy. A lot of people in my office, older than I, think the opposite, that it is a very nice community. But the way it was designed, and with the extra wide boulevard/ROW, especially near the center of town with some of the older 80's-looking architecture, it just creeps me out. And I've driven through there plenty of times, but still... I guess if you're older and have a family, then it becomes much more appealing.

I thought this was an interesting article in today's NWArk Times: "Balancing traffic flow with safety is constant struggle for city planners" Looks like Fayetteville is really taking to the David & Kohl's consulatation. This is a classic case facing almost all cities in the US-- that is, people still want to live in the classic subdivision isolated from others as much as possible. At least Fayetteville is trying to prevent this, which, as the article points out, does really exacerbate traffic problems, and that is better than nothing. That is the function of government, including city planners- looking out for the greater good. And it's not like every cul-de-sac needs to be eliminated; it's only that a subdivision could provide at least one connection to a nearby neighborhood or street, thereby really just affecting those that live on that connecting street. That's a common comprimise, and if planners are smart and can do what they do without political interference, it shouldn't be a problem for those living in the neighborhood. Design elements in the street and subdivision layout can discourage cut-through traffic and speeding.

Well, it depends on which projects you mean, but that is a potential hypothetical possibility. Let's see, the last reauthorization bill will be in effect thru 2009 I think. But I've been told Congress can get "pork barrel" funds for projects before then, but the biggy is during reauthorization. (I'm not totally sure yet exactly how that happens). If the next Arkansas general assembly session, which I think meets early 2007, approves more funding or related legislation for transportation, NWA could definitely benefit.

AHTD is rolling out the new statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) in the next several months-- it will go out for public comment I think within the next month or two, which will be announced to the public and will be available (I think) to view and comment from their website. This STIP is basically a list of projects for the next 4 years (07 thru 10)... I think that's right because it used to be 3 years. Anyway, that will be public information which is about as definitive a list of projects for the near future at least as I can talk about. Really, anything beyond that time frame, when it comes down to it, is almost always fuzzy. Because the real limitation for the "major" projects in NWA (such as I-540 and Hwy 412) is funding, which is outside of my department so to speak. Heck, in the next federal transportation re-authorization bill, AHTD could get a lot of funding for, say, the Hwy 412 Springdale bypass. If it did, than AHTD could move much faster on that project. If not, well... Far-off "timeline" answers would not be on accurate here I think, so it wouldn't be prudent of me to speculate. Heck, even if you were to talk to the Highway Commissioners, or the Governor, or anyone else, I don't think they could give you an accurate answer, since those projects are so dependant on funding limitations. If you were to ask about which project(s), I might be able to provide you with my best answers, though they may be somewhat veiled and embedded PR speak!

Well, through travelers on the future Bella Vista bypass would pay a greater toll than, say, those just commuting from Bella Vista (there would be multiple toll stations to my understanding). Remember, people don't have to take the new bypass (if they don't mind sitting in traffic). If you live in Bella Vista, you may well not find the bypass to be an attractive alternative to commute. Think of tolling as just another revenue source to help pay for a transportation infrastructure, just like paying a fee to use a bus or a metro (or, in lieu of raising taxes).

No, I don't see I-540 ever being "tolled". Politically speaking, tolling an existing route would be a bad idea, and I'm not even aware of any major existing interstates in the US that were tolled much after they were constructed. But, for new major routes, like Bella Vista, tolling can be seriously considered. If Bella Vista bypass does well, then obviously I think Arkansas we'll be more comfortable with it and really seriously consider it for other major new routes. But, as some may know, high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes are very stylish these days, and are showing up more and more often in metro areas in the US. As technology advances continually and people become more comfortable with them (and agencies more comfortable implementing them), every thing I see and hear indicates that something along those lines is the future of highway funding. That is, charging "users" (drivers) a "fee" based on miles driven, where and when (e.g., driving on a busy freeway near downtown around rush hour), maybe based on type of vehicle or occupancy (e.g., carpoolers don't pay and/or hybrid drivers don't pay), etc. It makes too much sense not to happen. When that will happen, and in what shape or form (per corridor like HOT lanes, per metro area like London, or per state), I don't know. Oregon DOT is doing a pilot program for a statewide type system (it will be interesting to see how that turns out). But in other words, in the near future, I don't see "tolling" in the conventional sense on existing routes.

Thanks. Oh boy, that's a loaded question. There are too many variables unknown right now, and things change all the time. I-540 widening, yes. 412, at least in part, yes. Bella Vista definitely yes. The other two... too early to tell I think. All depend on funding when it comes down to it. The feds are tight on cash, probably for the foreseeable future as far as I can tell. Most states are exploring creative and new options for funding sources. Arkansas is no different. Politics (and the people) will ultimately decide; however, these options are rather hush-hush right now so I can't elaborate, and will probably become public in the near future. But let's just say that other sources of major funding is being explored to help fund some of these major needs, which will become just about impossible to complete without it. I think it is just too obvious to many states and the public that are facing billion dollar shortfalls in funding for needs that they cannot address without major money upfront (rather than building bits and pieces in a 'pay as you go' system). But anyway... how about a "maybe for now" on the last two

! Where'd you that one from?

I wonder how much more population the City of Fayetteville would have it would've pursued a more aggressive anexation policy like Springdale has. Might have added a few thousand at most. As far as your question, that is interesting to think about. Now I'm rather curious myself-- I'm under the impression that developer costs in Springdale are less than Fayetteville, resulting in more cost-affordable (or less cost-unaffordable) housing. Which obviously would be an appeal to live in Springdale, other than it's centralized location in NWA and other things. I wonder if Springdale has impact fees for developers and if so, how they compare to Fayetteville's, among other costs Fayetteville requires. I'm not sure if transportation has much to do with it, though maybe I'm mistaken. Springdale traffic stinks just as bad as Fayetteville's, though Fayetteville is still way behind upgrading it's road infrastructure. Of course, Springdale will be massively upgrading it's road network in the next several years. I'd much rather drive down College than Sunset.

Yeah, I couldn't find anything via google either. Thanks for the responses. Crafton & Tull is primarily an engineering and surveying firm, a little architecture, but not the actual developers. Looks like they updated their website lately, and its pretty slick. It's too bad the City of Fayetteville doesn't keep up with a GIS map of their subdivisions like Rogers and Bentonville on the web.

Does anyone know if the developer has a website of the Mountain Ranch development? I would be interested in seeing their site plan. Yeah, I remember as a kid living at Betty Jo and wandering around with friends up that trail near that hillside. Very beautiful area. I think Rupple Rd would help out that development, and that area of town, when extended from the Boys&Girls Club to Hwy 62. It would provide another connection to all that commercial property on Hwy 62/6th St without drivers having and drive through that interchange at Hwy 62/I-540.

That's what I was thinking. But, I suppose to the Fay School Board, what do they mind if some parents/students have to drive further to school? Maybe, though I don't know this for sure, that most high schoolers probably drive to school than take the bus (it seems that way), but that's just a guess. In a way, Fayetteville has always had two high schools, if you include West Campus. Though probably only several hundred students (full time) at most attend West Campus.

Yes, it's the new hospital. The one thing I'd like to know is when it is planned to be opened. I haven't heard/read anything about that.

I've always wondered that as well. I've been thinking its recent housing developments in Bella Vista coupled with people in McDonald County finding a job in Benton County. Maybe someone very familiar with that area can elighten me. Traffic has gotten past a threshold, it seemed to me, in the last couple of years. In the morning and evening rush, I've seen queues 2+ miles long, easy. And like Mith said, the roads aren't laid out the best, as Hwy 71 is basically the only good way as far as I can tell to travel N-S in that area.

In the case of Hwy 65B in Pine Bluff, because it is a "high design type" expressway, people tend to drive much faster than the posted speed limite (I think 45mph?), even between signals. I've heard/seen speed traps through there. Basically, it doesn't work out so well. It's true that building at-grade intersections can be much cheaper than grade-seperations. In the case of rural highways, though, there is a major consideration, particularly when the area develops thus necessitating traffic signals-- safety. Rural high-speed highways with periodic traffic signals don't have a good safety record I think. It's counter-intuitive to unfamiliar drivers and drivers not paying attention. Look at any high-speed expressways with a traffic signal, and I bet more often than not you'll see a bunch of skid marks. The "eastern loop/bypass" (as described in NARTS 2030 Long Range Plan) has been talked about as an, as you say, open access divided highway. But that doesn't have the sex appeal as the western bypass does right now. It is a good point overall, though, as long as it makes sense. Something to think about. In the case of the western bypass, I'm 99% sure that will be strictly a freeway if it is to happen at all. That's what the current thinking is among many jurisdictions and agencies. Even the feds.

No, not in the modern sense of the term. There's sooo much development happening around I-540 that (1) interchanges would have to be reconfigured and (2) a lot of right-of-way would have to be purchased for the extra space needed. They can't fit frontage roads in the current ROW. So if they did frontage roads, it would be an expensive endevour (esp considering property values near I-540...) And to be honest anyway, frontage roads (like the Texas system, or parts of Central Ark) have it's disadvantages. I think in modern US freeway design practice, that system is "out of style". The only state DOT's which have employed that kind of system that I'm aware of has been Texas (almost exclusively) and Ark. Fayetteville's frontage roads, on the other hand, just like frontage roads you see in many rural freeways or once-rural freeways, were put in to retain access to someone(s) property. Not to improve operations or safety. In many cases, close frontage roads make congestion worse at interchanges (I can think of 1 zillion examples. It's generally poor practice in urbanized areas). In fact, numerous state DOT's are changing/have changed their interchange access guidelines/practice to seperate frontage roads as far away as practical from the interchanges! However, I know Rogers is wanting to extend I think 45th St from Walnut to New Hope, which parallels I-540, which would in a "sense" be a quasi-frontage road. Kind of like Horsebarn on the W side of 540. But that's probably not what you meant.

As long as they don't rename "Dead Horse Mountain Road", or "Cow Face Road". Just a some of my favorites around NWA