Transportation

NWARPC began the process of updating the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) to the NWARPC 2045 MTP in 2019. On March 24, 2021 the RPC/Policy Committee approved the plan by Resolution #2021-02. The 2045 MTP will serve as the 25-year regional transportation plan for the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan transportation planning area. It will provide a long-range, comprehensive look at the region’s transportation needs and implementation strategies including, but not limited to highways, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

NWARPC 2045 MTP CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2 – VISION, GOALS, AND 2045 MTP FRAMEWORK
Chapter 3 – POPULATION, HOUSING AND LANDUSE
Chapter 4 – PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT
Chapter 5 – ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Chapter 6 – ENVIRONMENT
Chapter 7 – TRAVEL PATTERNS AND TRAVEL FORECASTING
Chapter 8 – FACILITY DESIGN, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Chapter 9 – TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND FUNDING
Chapter 10 – ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 11 – PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 12 – MULTIMODAL FREIGHT

AMENDMENTS
Amendment #1 – October 26, 2022 – Resolution #2022-13
Amendment #2 – February 22, 2023 – Resolution #2023-01

NWARCP 2045 MTP ADOPTION TIMELINE:

January 21, 2021 – TAC virtual meeting – Review Draft MTP and recommend to RPC/Policy Committee.
January 27, 2021 at 1:30 PM – RPC/Policy Committee virtual meeting – Virtual Public Hearing/Open House to review draft MTP and accept public comments.
January 28 through February 28, 2021 – Virtual Public Comment Period.
March 18, 2021 – TAC virtual meeting – Review draft MTP.
March 24, 2021 – RPC/Policy Committee virtual meeting – Review draft MTP and consider NWARPC 2045 MTP for approval.

NWARPC used a number techniques to educate and gain public input throughout the MTP process:

The Growing Mobility in a Growing Region educational speaker series focusing on how NWA can grow and expand transportation modes. The series consisted of four public events – three speaker lectures and one panel discussion with peer transit agencies. The four-part series featured nationally known speakers with an emphasis on how Northwest Arkansas can grow and expand transportation modes to improve mobility for NWA residents. KUAF radio personality Kyle Kellam’s hosted each event and interviewed the speakers as well as NWARPC staff.
The 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Survey. As part of the MTP public involvement and input process a 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan opinion survey was made available between October 2019 and July 2020 with links to the online version from the NWARPC website, the NWARPC Facebook page, and also by providing the link through emails, media, and newspaper articles. A paper copy of the survey was also available in English and Spanish at public involvement events. A total of 378 surveys were received in English.
The 2019 NWA Regional Transportation Survey (Scientific, Random Sample). During September 2019, ETC Institute administered a regional transportation survey for the NWARPC. The purpose of the survey was to gather input from residents to better understand the level of satisfaction with the region’s transportation system and attitudes toward prioritizing transportation improvements. A five-page survey was mailed to a random sample of households in the MPA. Residents were given the option of returning the survey by mail or completing it online. Emails and phones calls were made to encourage households to participate. A total of 835 surveys were received.
The Public Outreach Activities in Connect NWA – 10-year Transit Development Plan. CONNECT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (NWA) is a 10-Year Transit Development Plan (TDP) that will serve as a “Blueprint” for improving and expanding transit in the NWA region. Connect NWA establishes a shared understanding of what successful transit looks like, how to design effective service and ultimately how to implement it regional and locally. Over 1,200 surveys (in English, Spanish, and Marshallese) were received. A survey summary can be found at this link.
Origin/Destination Transit Survey (Scientific, Random Sample). The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) System Wide Origin and Destination Survey was conducted in March 2018. The survey was completed for regional transit riders in the Northwest Arkansas area on both Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) and Razorback Transit (Razorback) systems, with a sample size of 1,080. The O/D Survey was Phase I of the TDP update. An interactive map of the survey can be found at this link.

PUBLIC INPUT:

The public participated in the kick-off open-house events on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 in Rogers and on Thursday, October 17, 2019 in Fayetteville. Staff from NWARPC, Ozark Regional Transit, Razorback Transit and Alliance Transportation Group Consultants presented information, posters, and handouts about the 2045 MTP update process and the recommendations for transit routes as part of the Connect NWA future local transit system. The maps and information presented at these events are available below. 2045 MTP opinion surveys were available for participants to complete at the open houses. Tablets were provided so participants could take the survey online. Additionally, they could take the survey on their smart phone. Paper surveys with three questions were also available for opinions on the individual transit routes presented as part of Connect NWA. The maps and information presented at these events are available below: