itk

Didn't hear about that one. I know that as late as several months ago, when I talked to some officials from Bentonville, they seemed to be unsure as to how they were going to pay for their portion (i.e., basically whether or not Wal-Mart would help them out). Now it looks like their set, at least according to the news reports.

There's an article today that states that Wal-Mart is willing to dish out some $$ for the 8th St project in Bentonville: http://www.nwarktimes.com/bcdr/News/34352/ This was news to me (just now sitting at my computer), honestly, and I wasn't in my office today, so I thought it was interesting enough to mention on this board. Basically, it looks like Wal-Mart will put up the required funding match (since this was a federal ear-marked project), thus helping out the City of Bentonville quite a bit and move this project forward. With all this funding perceivably a shoo-in for this project, this thing will I bet move forward as fast as possible. Coincedently, while typing this I saw a news report on this very subject on KNWA-- I think they quoted a local official as saying construction might happen in 5 years... that sounds about right. (it will definitely have to jump through beurocratic hoops, which will take time in itself among other things).

#12 itk

Now it seems like others on this board are starting to catch a glimpse at some of the "weirdness" (for lack of a better term) behind the workings of the City of Fayetteville. Although to be fair, I'm sure there are plenty of other cities out there that have their fair share of weirdness. Wisdom is not a prerequisite for occupying some positions within a local government (or any for that matter), though not to single anyone out. But I've experienced "issues" with them, and know many others who have as well. I wonder if the City of Fayetteville government has always been this quirky. Maybe the city just tends to attract quirky people.

Yeah, think like a typical freeway through an urban area. At least some of the widening will have to be done in the median even in sections in Benton County. Of coures, none of it has been designed yet, but there will be median barriers, probably retaining walls where necessary, noise barriers perhaps, etc. And, of course, more lighting will go in (actually, come to think of it, does I-540 in NWA have any substantial lighting at all, like at interchanges, etc.? I don't think it does...) Short term impvts first... except for some of the biggies, like US 62 in Fayetteville or 102/62 in Bentonville, where they may decide to skip right to the long-term impvts. But after that... it'll probably be just a mixed bag of things.

Check the long-term improvements for Exit 85 and 86 (Hwy 71B and Hwy 102/62 interchanges), which were recommended to have a SPUI. Those are very logical places for them, and I think AHTD will end up doing them. When that might happen... I'm not sure, but I would bet the Hwy 102/62 interchange would be "SPUIed" before any others.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the NWARPC including all short-term improvements identified in the I-540 Study for the immediate future in their Long Range Plan. AHTD is now in the process of developing their Statewide Transportation Impvt Program for 07-10, or STIP, and I would be surprised if these short-term impvts aren't included in it, since they are obvious needs, are relatively inexpensive, and have been identified by these consultants and NWARPC. So basically, I would be suprised if they were not done in the very near future. I don't see widening done at once-- that's almost 30 miles of widening, which is too overwhelming, especially when considering that I-540 is the "backbone" of the region, and having a work zone that huge (with lane reductions in both directions!) would cause unbelievable gridlock in NWA. The widening would be in chunks I imagine, with logical termini on either ends. So, for example, Fayetteville's stretch would be widened at one point, then maybe Bentonville-Rogers, then maybe Lowell-Springdale. That's just a guess- they may start in Benton County first, which has the fastest-growing area of traffic. OR, AHTD may do pieces here and there, such as widening some bridges here and widening the pavement there, then when a long enough stretch has been "widened", they would then open it to traffic (like what AHTD is doing to Hwy 67 in NLR-Jacksonville-- they're doing it in pieces here and there, but not opening it to traffic until most if not all is done). Either way, when widening construction happens traffic will NOT be pretty in NWA (I remember how bad traffic was when they were just overlaying I-540-- imagine how bad traffic was then, then multiply that by many, many, many months). But, when its done, traffic will improve and NWA will definitely have an "urbanesqe" freeway.

As suspected, nothing earth-shattering happened at the public meeting. It was in the newspapers though (I heard that there were probably more press there than actual citizens).

No, you're not blind-- it is rather difficult to find, unfortunately I think. It's not directly on 412, and not near any landmarks, and Clayton St itself almost looks like a driveway. Probably not much to miss anyway (I didn't go), but I'll find out about it tomorrow in my office and if anything interesting happened I can post it.

Since I haven't caught up on all the posts, I apologize in advance if I'm taking your comment out of context, but are you saying Bentonville's road and infrastructure planning isn't all that great? If so how do you mean? IMO Bentonville's infrastructure planning is very smart. Part of this of course deals with smart growth/land use planning; however, the other part deals with the actual infrastructure itself. The best example I like is Bentonville's implementation of access management on arterials. Access is smart planning of controlling and managing access along a corridor or roadway. (see www.accessmanagement.gov). Many states are starting to implement access management guidelines, Arkansas being one of them. However, cities are starting to see the benefit of that, but many here in Arkansas still don't (mainly smaller ones with less qualified staff). Bentonville, though, does do access management (see 71B/Walton Blvd (the newer section between Rainbow curve and I-540). I haven't seen this in other NWA cities. This is smart planning at its best, because it is not easy to do and not easy to convince business owners. But it is in everyone's benefit. Fayetteville is starting to realize this I think the hard way (which is one reason why they want College Ave overhauled-- access management). With a trained eye you can see the difference between land use/infrastructure planning on Hwy 102 in Bentonville... until you get to Centerton, where you see they have little to no planning along 102. I *garauntee* drivers will be wishing in years to come they did what Bentonville is doing (like what Fayetteville residences wished they had done to College Ave).

Good point.

Aside from the utility discussion, Bentonville it seems to me do better planning than Fayetteville in the sense that they appear to be turning good planning into reality from what I can see more so than Fayetteville. Now part of that may have to do with Bentonville growing at an enormous rate (thus I can see good planning principles in action with new developments and growth). But what good is planning if it doesn't lead to action? In that regards making good ideas into reality is just as important as making the good ideas in the first place. There was a meeting today which I attended regarding transportation planning in NWA (it will be in the papers tomorrow), and every city I believe had representatives there (mayors, engineers, planners, etc.), yet Fayetteville had NONE. They have been in that a habit of that lately. Guess they are disinterested in regional transportation decision making. They snooze, they lose.

Sometimes. Other times they take place in a community building or maybe hotel lobby (like NWACC, the Jones Center, maybe a public library, or the Embassy Suites). Just wherever people can easily find them I think.

They'll have lots of displays up I'm sure, mostly maps and info on proposed project lists. You can look at the maps and see what has been recommended and talk to the staff about questions you might have and any comments you might have. They'll be very knowledgable about just about anything you can ask them regarding transportation in NWA. Mostly what will be there is basically what is shown on their website, but if you show up in person you can fill out a comment form if nothing else (at least I'm pretty sure since they've done that at previous meetings). I'm not 100%, but I think you could take pictures because journalists show up sometimes to these things with cameras... I guess it is public information after all. I think the ones I've been to before, typically some dozens of people might be there at the peak time (like late afternoon)...

I forgot to post this sooner. The NWA Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) will be hosting a public meeting for the NWA 2030 Long Range Plan on Tue April 4 11am-7pm at their office building in Springdale (on Clayton St, 1/2 block S of Sunset Ave, a little W of Big K and Malco). Here's the link: http://www.nwarpc.com/transportation.htm They've also posted their draft 2030 Long Range Plan on this site. Public input is truly valued and is very important, so if anyone in NWA has an opinion about transportation (who doesn't, right?), or is just curious, feel free to drop by. This is a chance for citizens to have their voices heard on transportation issues in NWA, and NWARPC will appreciate all input.

I can't believe no one else did either-- I was going to if you didn't . Good news for NWA.

Well, the Envinornmental work has long been completed. They will have to update it again if not already have done so, since the approval I think is good for only 3 years (give or take?). Van Laningham said 2009 MIGHT be open by 2009, but as he was quoted "That's admittedly ambitious." http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/147286/ It won't be built without the western portion of the 412 bypass, that's for sure, so it will only be open as soon as that portion of 412 is open. Which Van Laningham has no direct control over-- AHTD does. Just reminding people to keep that in mind.

^ Yep. That's the word I've been hearing-- the western portion of the 412 bypass has ultimate priority. Mainly because (1) the access road to XNA can't be built without the western portion and (2) Springdale/Cave Springs/Elm Springs/Tontitown have developments under construction and planned like crazy out there. I was at a meeting not too long ago with some city staff, a lawyer, developer, engineer/planners, and the school super involving a huge, huge development in that area (maybe it's better I don't say who right now) where the planned 412 bypass would cut through. The developers obviously don't want to build houses somewhere only to have them torn down in several years for a new freeway. Plus the school district already purchased property from said developer for a brand new elementry school which they plan to open in Fall 07 (and didn't have any other property in the area), which meant that they HAD to have it-- only problem is, is that it almost falls in the path of the bypass (of course if they would've known that before they probably wouldn't have bought it). Fortunately, it looks like, although I say this prematurely, that the future school and some homes won't be in the way... hopefully. But this just illustrates some of the problems facing AHTD right now in that area... and why they wan't to hurry up and buy the ROW there.

Honestly I have no opinion. No one can really say for sure without an objective planning study. And, I don't think this has been reported, that that cannot truly begin without the NWA regional travel demand computer model, which NWARPC is working on right now. That is a major time consuming process but when completed (any MPO with a sizable metro area has one) will be a major tool for evaluating any future bypass proposals, including the western bypass. I think that the western bypass in some shape or form will most likely be found feasible sometime in the future (it's location does make some sense). However, given the growth in the area and other big time funding transportation needs, it's my thought that this concept won't become a reality for quite some time. Just think-- a 412 bypass around Springdale has been talked about since the *late 1960's*. First, as a southern bypass, then in the early 90's as a northern bypass. It still hasn't been built. But again, if there were more funds available...

That's a big misconception (others have said the same thing). If you're stuck in a jam due to an incident on 540 between Fay and Bentonville, are you going to drive approx 10-15 mi to the west, drive maybe 10-15 n or s, then double-back the 10-15 miles to the east? Very, very, very unlikely as it is currently conceived. 112, 71B, or 265 are you're most logical best bets. It would only truly benefit (not talking about economic benefits due to development oportunities) through n-s traffic THROUGH NWA, and (again, as it is currently conceived) commuters in and around Bella Vista/Jane MO and Greenland/S Fay. Can't have it as a bypass AND as a parallel commuter route serving existing communities in NWA. Can't have your cake and eat it too. Not saying your point isn't valid.

Where did that $400 million figure come from??? Did the journalist say where that came from? (I'm assuming you pulled that from a news article).

They were talking about Bass Pro moving into the Pyramid in Memphis. Here's a Memphis article about it: http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories...html?from_rss=1 I think katv also said that it would be the biggest Bass Pro, even bigger than the original in Springfield.

Yeah, I retract-- it's more like 4 in with a thin layer of ice. Pretty sweet.

Looks like east Fayetteville got about 3" of snow... not too shabby

Yeah, pride and enthusiasm are always good things to have, but slyder1 is quite the mark. I'm sure he doesn't mean to sound like one though, so I say that as constructive criticism-- to have an intelligent, productive discussion, don't sound like a mark. It's uncool. It's hard to read the Branson/Springfield thread... makes my brain want to explode. Nothing against the area or slyder1-- I've been there many dozens of times, it's a fine place it its own right.