ARDOT gathers public input to address downtown Fort Smith truck traffic

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) were in Fort Smith on Thursday (Oct. 3) to gather public input on options to re-route or otherwise minimize truck traffic in downtown Fort Smith.

The new effort by ARDOT to address heavy truck traffic in downtown Fort Smith is the latest in several decades of attempts by state and local officials, including business owners, to make Garrison Avenue in downtown more pedestrian and tourist friendly. Garrison Avenue is a state highway, which makes it more complicated to change truck traffic, according to ARDOT officials.

ARDOT on Thursday presented two options to divert truck traffic, but both options do nothing to remove truck traffic on the western portion of Garrison Avenue, which is what more directly connects the downtown to parks, museums and other amenities on the Arkansas River. (Link here for ARDOT details on the public input process.)

“Fort Smith’s central business district is surrounded by warehousing and industrial land uses that generate truck traffic. The impacts of truck traffic have been perceived as limiting the potential of downtown Fort Smith,” noted part of the ARDOT messaging about the public input meeting. “Based on these concerns by local stakeholders, the Arkansas State Highway Commission authorized this study to explore improvements to the transportation system in and surrounding downtown Fort Smith, including the feasibility of constructing a new Arkansas River crossing.”

However, a new bridge has been eliminated as an option, Arkansas Highway Commissioner Keith Gibson said Thursday.

“It would be just too much (money), and it’s not showing, the numbers don’t show that it will pull much of that (truck traffic) from the downtown,” he told Talk Business & Politics.

Following is info from ARDOT on the two concepts presented Thursday.
Concept 1 – Western Downtown Loop
The purpose of this concept is to reroute regional traffic (including truck traffic) using perimeter routes. Under this concept, improvements would be made to 4th Street, 5th Street, and Division Street (to reroute traffic destined to north and east Fort Smith), as well as South A Street (to reroute traffic destined for south Fort Smith).

This concept would reduce truck traffic on Garrison Avenue, which would make the downtown area more pedestrian friendly. Likewise, reducing traffic volumes on Garrison Avenue would provide an opportunity to reallocate existing public right of way for different modes of transportation, creating public spaces, beautification, or other public uses.

Drawbacks with Concept 1 include:
• Improvements to 5th Street would be constrained by historic properties;
• Improvements to North 4th Street and South A Street could impact existing residential, government, commercial, and industrial development; and.
• While North 4th Street is already used by trucks, increasing traffic on local roads may be viewed negatively by some property owners.

Concept 2 – Downtown Street Modifications
The purpose of this concept is to distribute regional traffic (including truck traffic) across multiple downtown streets.

Under this concept, improvements would be made to 5th Street and the North A and B couplet (to reroute traffic destined to north and east Fort Smith), as well as Rogers Avenue (to reroute traffic destined for south Fort Smith). Like Concept 1, this concept would reduce truck traffic on Garrison Avenue, which would make the downtown area more pedestrian friendly and provide an opportunity for rightsizing. Overall, this concept is expected to have fewer impacts on developed properties than Concept 1.

Drawbacks with Concept 2 include:
• Improvements to 5th Street would be constrained by historic properties; and,
• By rerouting some traffic to the North A and B Street couplet and Rogers Avenue, those businesses would gain additional visibility. However, some of that traffic would be truck traffic, which may be viewed negatively.

ARDOT will review public input and present options to the Arkansas Highway Commission. There is no timeline for when options will be presented to the commission. Also, no budget has been approved for any options that might be recommended.

“No construction funds have been dedicated to highway improvements that this study may recommend. Additional detailed study would be necessary to further define the scope of improvements and how to minimize potential impacts for any future project,” ARDOT noted in the option report.