NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008
1:30 – 3:00 PM
NWARPC, SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS
“The mission of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority is to provide leadership in the implementation of regionally significant highway and transit transportation projects and initiatives to meet the present and future mobility needs of the region.”
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Judge Jerry Hunton, Presiding
Chair Hunton called the meeting to order and called the roll.
Judge Black
Mayor Frank Anderson
Mayor Bob McCaslin
Mayor Bobbie Griffith
Alderman Terry Yopp
Mayor Dan Coody
Mayor Wes Hogue
Mayor Rob Hulse
Mayor Perry Long
Benton County
Bella Vista
Bentonville
Centerton
Farmington
Fayetteville
Gentry
Lincoln
Lowell
ABSENT
PRESENT
PRESENT
ABSENT
PRESENT
ABSENT
PRESENT
ABSENT
PRESENT
Mayor Sonny Hudson
Mayor Steve Womack
Mayor ML Van Poucke
Mayor Jerre Van Hoose
Butch Bartholomew
Prairie Grove
Rogers
West Fork
Others attending:
Todd Butler, Ozark Civil Engineers
Jeff Webb, Garver Engineers
Martine Pollard, Rogers/Lowell Chamber
Siloam Springs
Springdale
Mike Malone, NW Council
Phil Pumphrey, Ozark Regional Transit
Michael Lindsey, Morgan and Keegan
Michele Allgood, Williams and Anderson
Marilyn Edwards, Washington County
Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville
PRESENT
ABSENT
PRESENT
PRESENT
ABSENT
Patsy Christie, Springdale
Scott Van Laningham, NW Council
Mike Battles, PBS&J
Mike Seither, Razorback Transit
Frank McIllwain, Garver Engineers
Michael Solomon, Lowell
Paul Justus, NWARPC
Dan Short, Washington County
Doug Sprouse, Springdale
Jeff Hawkins, NWARPC
Celia Scott-Silkwood, AICP, NWARPC
John McLarty, NWARPC
Dick Trammel, Hwy Commission
Press: Doug Thompson, NWA Morning News; Bill Bowden, AR Democrat-Gazette

2. Introduction of New Elected Officials
Chair Hunton introduced the area’s newly elected officials – Marilyn Edwards,
Washington County Judge-elect; Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville Mayor-elect; Doug
Sprouse, Springdale Mayor-elect. He said that other new members of the Board not attending the meeting were Dave Bisbee, Benton County Judge-elect; David Allen,
Siloam Springs Mayor-elect.
Chair Hunton also introduced Dick Trammel, who will take over from Jonathon
Barnett, as the NWA representative on the Highway Commission.
3. Review of Minutes from October 20, 2008 Meeting of the Board of Directors
A motion was made by Mayor Van Pouke and seconded by Terry Yopp to approve the October 20, 2008 Minutes as distributed. Motion Passes.
4. Razorback Transit Program
Mike Seither, Associate Director, Transit and Parking, University of Arkansas, gave a presentation on the status of the Razorback Transit program:

Razorback Transit Basics

14 Routes

21 full size buses, 5 para-transit bans

1.365 million passenger boardings – 80% student, 20% non-student

$2.4 million total expense and revenue – balanced budget

Razorback Transit Sources of Funding

FTA – apportionment shared with Ozark Regional Transit – 30%

State of Arkansas – rental car tax (apportioned) – 15%
 City of Fayetteville – 2%

U of A – student fees – 40%

Self generated funds – charters and advertising revenue – 13%

2007 – 2009 Improvements
 Four surplus buses obtained – upgrade fleet age by 7-8 years/bus

Four new buses, Nov. 07 through Dec. 08 – total cost $1.2 M

Funds obtained for two more buses – for Dec. 2010

FY 2007 – 2009 Operating Plan

Study how service hours are delivered – increase operational efficiency

Increase operational relevancy – focus on mission

Increase both delivery and effectiveness of public awareness
 What’s Been Done

Realigned service

Public-private partnerships – United Methodist Parking Deck park and ride utilizing existing Brown Route
 New time tables/electronic screens in Union Station

New transit map – private partners paid production costs
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
Increased advertising revenue four times – with unprecedented exterior sponsorship from a private partner

Funding Reality

Public expectation of more transit

Reduced federal funds for the region – 2012 will lose approximately
$550,000
 Static allocation from state and local governments

Increased operation costs – cost of living, fuel and equipment replacement

Future Challenges
 New buildings absorb parking – reduced parking availability for cars

Remote Parking is Planned – will require more transit to service lots

Operating on city streets with heavier traffic loads

Service Enhancements

Address major problem on campus – get students to campus without automobiles requiring parking

At the same time – maintain current service hours and do not increase the budget

Challenges, 2010 and beyond

Try not to shrink because of increasing operational cost and decreasing federal subsidies

Fulfill high expectations using capital money only on rolling stock?
 Plan to funded needed upgrades to the 1990 Maintenance Facility within the next 10 years

Participate in RMA transit project

Help develop Efficient, Economical, and Affordable Transit
Development Plan with RPC
 Discuss area transit infrastructure

Budget for future area capital acquisition – including sustainable operating and maintenance expenses for the future
5. Highway Project Report
John McLarty gave a report including a recap on the Bella Vista Bypass, the
Springdale Northern Bypass, and I-540 Improvements. He also reported on projects of regional significance including Highway 265 improvements, the Highway
112/Rupple Road corridor, and the Western Beltway feasibility study.
Springdale Northern Bypass

Total estimated cost of project is $540,000,000

$27,000,000 is available

ROW plans are nearly complete and acquisition should begin in early 2009

Western portion will probably be done first
Bella Vista Bypass

Approximately 15 miles in Arkansas

Total estimated cost of project is $250,000,000

ROW acquisition is substantially complete
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I-540 Improvements

Estimated cost is $377,000,000

AHTD will concentrate on interchange improvements first
Highway 265/Old Wire Road/1 st
Street Corridor

This corridor will continue Highway 265 north, from Fayetteville to Highway
62B in Rogers

New location – from where the pavement ends on Hwy 265/Old Wire Road in
Lowell, north along the section line and tie into 1 st
Street in Rogers – will require a new 1,000 foot bridge

This will eliminate the need to disturb the historic Cross Hollows area

The Travel Demand Model shows that, by improving this corridor, significant traffic using Hwy 71 would transfer to Hwy 265/Old Wire Road

Travel Demand Model – year 2010 – Old Wire Road connected to 1 st
Street, with two lanes, traffic increases from 3,381 to 14, 525

15 miles from Joyce Street in Fayetteville to Hwy 62B in Rogers – the project will need at least $106.3 million, in addition to the $9.7 million that is shown as obligated Springdale projects on the current TIP
Highway 112/Rupple Road Corridor

20 miles from Hwy 62 in Fayetteville north to Hwy 12 in Bentonville

Corridor uses existing Rupple Road and Hwy 112, with improvements

Provides alternative to I-540 and improves access to the NWA Regional airport

20 miles X $8.5 million per mile = $170 million
Scott Vanlaningham commented that the Airport Board is looking for phasing on the airport access road project. Phase I would begin at the south end of the airport and extend to Hwy 112. Phase II would extend from Hwy 112 to the Springdale
Northern Bypass. Improvements in the Hwy 112 corridor will help access to the airport.
Western Beltway Feasibility Study

The Western Beltway concept was initiated as a response to the I-540
Improvement Study which concluded that by 2024 most of the interchanges would need major improvements and the I-540 mainline would need to be six and eight lanes.

Another issue driving the Western Belt way concept was the possibility of an
I-49 connecting Shreveport, LA to Kansas City.

An earmark was obtained through Congressman Boozeman’s office for a feasibility study of the Western Beltway utilizing Transportation and
Community and System Preservation (TCSP) funds in the amount of
$604,726, matched by local funds of $151,186, for a total project cost of
$755,912.

The principal objective of the project will be to assess the feasibility of the
Western Beltway alternative.

NWARPC is working with AHTD regarding contract scope of services and procurement procedures.
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Additional Formal Funding Requests have been made to the region’s Federal
Congressional Delegation for:

An Alternatives Analysis for the NWA North-South Corridor including “the feasibility of light rail, as well as bus rapid transit as possible solutions alleviating traffic congestion and meeting future travel demands”

I-540 Improvements

Bella Vista Bypass

Highway 412 Springdale Northern Bypass
6. Discussion of Future Direction/Action Items
Chair Hunton asked the group to introduce themselves and state individual priority projects:

Springdale Northern Bypass – 8

I-540 Improvements – 6

Hwy 265 Improvements – 6

Transit – 2

Bella Vista Bypass – 2

Hwy 112/Rupple Road – 2

Western Beltway feasibility study – 2
Discussion included:

From the list of projects – which one(s) should the RMA work on first?

How should the RMA identify those projects?

Set up a committee to nail down specific projects that could be considered if a federal stimulus package is offered in 2009.
7. Discussion of Potential Legislative Recommendations
Discussion:

Lobby the legislature to establish a matching fund for RMA projects

Generate support from other groups, such as the County Judges Association and the Municipal League, toward a matching fund.

Mike Battles, PBS&J – said that Texas has several RMAs and they use different techniques to provide funds for RMA, including a dedicated $10 fee on vehicle registration, toll facilities, and sales tax.

What can the RMA Board do to encourage a portion of the Federal stimulus funding package go to NWA ready-to-build priority projects?

A motion was made by Mayor Van Pouke that a resolution be drafted to send to the state’s congressional delegation requesting economic stimulus funding for ready-to-build regional priority projects. Mayor Hudson provided the second. Motion passes.
Action Item:

Staff will compose a resolution to request stimulus funding for regional projects.
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8. Report and Recommendations from the Nominating Committee
Chair Hunton called upon Mayor McCaslin for a report from the Nominating
Committee, which included Mayor McCaslin, Mayor Van Hoose, Mayor Hudson, and
Mayor Hogue. Mayor McCaslin said that the Committee recommended Dave Bisbee for the position of Chair, Doug Sprouse for Vice Chair, and Sonny Hudson for
Secretary/Treasurer.
Chair Hunton entertained a motion to vote to approve the slate of nominees. Mayor
Van Pouke made a motion to accept the nomination. Mayor Frank Anderson provided the second. Motion passes.
9. Report on the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Process for Financial Advisor
Mike Malone said that the RMA would need an independent financial advisor who can help the Authority assess the financial alternatives on specific projects. Jeff
Hawkins said that the Board needed to follow the federal/AHTD procurement procedures in the RFQ process. He said that staff is working toward finalization of the process and a review committee may need to be formed when RFQs are received.
8. Other Business

Set next meeting date – Monday, January 12, 2009 at 1:30 pm, NWA Regional
Planning Commission, 1311 Clayton, Springdale, AR 72762

Web site – NWA RMA web site is www.nwarma.org
. Meeting notices and materials presented at the meetings will be on the site as well as links to related articles and information.
9. Public Comment
No public comment was offered.
10. Adjourn
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion passes.
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