Board receives ‘hopeful’ update on Interstate 49 funding

Doug Thomas is “hopeful” significant funding for Interstate 49 can come from a possible federal infrastructure stimulus plan and the upcoming reauthorization of the federal highway bill.

Discussion of I-49 and other regional projects were the focus of Tuesday’s (Dec. 9) Fort Smith board of directors study session. (Link here to the packet of information received by directors for the study session.) Thomas, a partner with the Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm of Watts Partners, briefed the board on his lobbying efforts on behalf of the city.

Link here to a previous report from The City Wire about Thomas’ role.

Thomas told the board he is confident that U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, are aware of the importance to find funding for I-49.

“It’s in their minds and that is something they are pushing,” Thomas said.

The infrastructure stimulus bill Congress is expected to take up in early 2009 would likely direct funding to projects ready to go and of a regional nature. Thomas said I-49 meets both of those requirements.

Thomas is scheduled to meet with members of the Arkansas Congressional delegation later this week to determine a best course of legislative action on I-49 and other Fort Smith regional projects.

He stressed the importance of Fort Smith regional civic and business leaders visiting Washington for direct communication with Arkansas’ Congressional delegation and their key staffers. This constant lobbying is required so that I-49 and other projects “not get lost in the great, great shuffle of projects.”

Mayor Ray Baker told Thomas that I-49 funding should be aggressively pursued. Baker also expressed frustration with the lack of public lobbying on behalf of I-49.

“That should be pushed very hard by them (Arkansas’ Congressional delegation). We need to be there and get our share” of I-49 money,” Baker said.

At a later point in the discussion, Baker noted as he looked around to the other board members: “Remember when we used to have all those wonderful I-49 rallies? I wonder what happened to all that?”

Deputy City Administrator Ray Gosack said I-49 funding discussions between the city and the offices of Lincoln, Pryor and Boozman have focused on finding money for building I-49 between the Alma interchange of I-40 and I-540, across the Arkansas River, through Fort Chaffee and connecting to U.S. 71 between Fort Smith and Greenwood.

The city also provided Thomas a list of smaller Fort Smith projects that might qualify for funding under the possible federal infrastructure stimulus package. The $32.21 million list of projects includes:
$4.4 million for a Lake Fort Smith water treatment plant
$4 million for reconstruction of 0.9 miles of Texas Road south to Cavanaugh Road
$4 million for drainage improvements along Mill Creek in south Fort Smith
$1.5 million for extension of Chad Colley Boulevard at Chaffee Crossing

The board is expected to prioritize the $32 million-list at its Dec. 16 regular board meeting.

Mayor Ray Baker (left, front) and City Administrator Dennis Kelly listen to the discussion of I-49 funding.