Metroplan seeking public input for Central Arkansas Regional Greenways project

Metroplan, Central Arkansas’ planning fee, is asking for suggestions on its undertaking to attach the cities within the area.

Interactive maps of the proposed trails and the general public survey could be discovered at https://www.centralarkgreenways.com/.

Tab Townsell, government director of Metroplan, mentioned metropolis and county governments can be chargeable for constructing out the proposed path. Townsell mentioned public feedback will assist native governments get a greater image of the areas the proposed trails will undergo.

“That’s one of many vital elements of this, it’s alleged to be secure for anyone from eight to 80,” Townsell mentioned in an interview. “It’s not going to be peddling in site visitors such as you see some bicyclists do.”

The Regional Greenways undertaking was authorised by the Metroplan board of administrators two years in the past. The undertaking was authorised for $55 million, which is half of the company’s funding for the following 10 years. Metroplan is utilizing funding from the Floor Transportation Program Block Grant, a federal grant, for the regional path system.

“The regional multi-use path system will combine present trails, paths, and sidewalks to make very important connections inside the general regional transportation system. It’s going to additionally purpose for seamless reference to the prevailing and future transit community. Metroplan is the company uniquely positioned to champion this initiative,” Metroplan wrote in a press launch on the time of the announcement.

Inflation

Townsell mentioned there are issues about inflation rising the price of the undertaking.

“It’s much more costly now than it was a couple of years in the past,” he mentioned.

Townsell mentioned the Central Arkansas Greenways Venture is modeled after the Razorback Greenway in Northwest Arkansas. He mentioned that the undertaking value about $1 million a mile, nevertheless it’ll be tough to inform whether or not it’ll value that a lot per mile because it was finished a couple of years in the past.

“It’ll rely upon if there’s a bridge, underpass or one thing that prices more cash. We’ll see if we’ll observe that concept of about $1 million a mile or inflation takes an even bigger chew of the funds and alternatives we’ve,” Townsell mentioned.

He added the company will get a greater concept of the influence of inflation when it begins the Southwest Path this summer season.

Metroplan will obtain a $3 million annual enhance within the funding it receives from the Floor Transportation Block Grant Program, which can be used to fund the Regional Greenways Venture. Townsell defined the rise in funding from the grant is a part of the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, which was signed into regulation by President Biden final 12 months.

With 160 miles of proposed new trails and 23 miles of present trails needing to be upgraded, there are 183 complete miles that can be accounted for within the Regional Greenways Venture, Townsell defined.

Native governments can be required to place in a single greenback for each 4 {dollars} Metroplan invests into the undertaking, Townsell mentioned.

Financial Affect

Townsell mentioned he believes the completion of the Regional Greenways Venture can assist recruit individuals to maneuver to the area.

“Folks search their way of life and employers search their individuals, so if their individuals will dwell there, an employer could be recruited there,” Townsell mentioned.

Within the newest Census information, Townsell mentioned Central Arkansas’ inhabitants grew at a charge under the nationwide common and he mentioned a path like this could assist reverse that pattern.