Residents view water quality protection as top NWA infrastructure priority

Springdale-based nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Council released the results of a recent survey on area infrastructure priorities, and the highest priority was to protect the quality of area lakes and streams, according to a Tuesday (April 12) news release.

The survey of more than 4,000 respondents included other priorities such as building more highways and increasing recycling and reducing waste.

Respondents completed the survey from Feb. 15 to March 25 to inform the work of the council’s Infrastructure Work Group, which was re-established earlier this year following the approval of the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law. The group will focus on helping area governments and businesses tap into federal money. It will work to coordinate and assist with federal grant requests from across Benton and Washington counties.

Historically, the Northwest Arkansas Council has focused on water quality and quantity, highway construction, public transportation and the work of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport. Because of the new funding, the group will look to identify and pursue grants for things such as electric vehicle charging stations, broadband expansion and recycling.

“The region’s rapid growth makes it critical for the council to work to ensure that we’re doing everything possible as we pursue federal grants,” said Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. “The survey confirmed many things we believed to be true but also provided some surprising insights.

“One of the water-related responses came as a surprise,” Peacock added. Asked whether they’d pay more for drinking water if the additional money went to the long-term protection of the region’s rivers and lakes, 65% of survey respondents said they would pay more.

Following are some of the other survey findings:

• Nearly three-fourths of respondents were willing to recycle more, waste less and learn about their area recycling program
• Asked about their recycling program, 61% of respondents said knowing what the program accepted is confusing.
• On public transportation, 80% of respondents expect the area will need more public transportation and buses, but 48% would be riders if the system were more convenient.
• Broadband services should be available to everyone, including those who live far from cities.
• Four out of five respondents expect to eventually own an electric vehicle.
• Respondents want the Northwest Arkansas Council to continue focusing on area highway expansions and expanding the area’s network of electric vehicle charging stations.

Asked about specific road projects, respondents gave top priority to completing the U.S. Highway 412 bypass of Springdale. Second was the widening of Arkansas Highway 112 from Fayetteville to Bentonville. Third, extending a four-lane highway from the Bella Vista Bypass near Gravette to Highway 412 near Tontitown. Fourth was improving Highway 412 between Siloam Springs and Springdale to interstate standards.

Link here for the survey results.