Planners award $16.6 million for road, trail projects

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net) 741 views 

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission recently awarded more than $16.6 million in federal money for 21 regional transportation projects. The city of Lowell will receive more than $4 million of the grant money.

The money comes from the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program – Attributable, the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Carbon Reduction Program. The competitive awards support infrastructure improvements to enhance mobility, promote safety, encourage alternative transportation and reduce transportation emissions in the region.

The planning commission administers the urban area funding programs, with the fiscal year 2027 funding program cycle expected to begin in January 2026. Following are the awards for fiscal year 2026.

Lowell will receive a combined $4.13 million for the Arkansas Highway 264/Bellview/Spring Creek intersection and the Highway 264 Razorback Greenway tunnel and trail realignment.

Bentonville will receive a combined $3.91 million for improvements along Greenhouse Road, from Arkansas Highways 12 to 102, as well as for the Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard and South Vaughn Road intersection. The first project also includes Centerton.

Centerton will receive $500,000 for phase two of a sidewalk project and the Highway 102/East Centerton Boulevard and Womack Street traffic signal.

Springdale will receive a combined $3.77 million for Gene George Boulevard phase two, 40th Street side path extension and smart school connections. The first project also includes Johnson.

Fayetteville will receive a combined $1.66 million for improvements to Highway 112/Garland Avenue between Poplar and Drake streets, and North Street between Garland and College avenues; transit shop enhancements; Rupple Road lighting between Persimmon Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; and Drake Street connections.

Tontitown will receive a combined $1.38 million for intersection improvements at U.S. Highway 412 and Barrington Road and Fletcher Avenue and Barrington Road.

Benton County will receive $500,000 for improvements to McNelly Road and Spanker/Plentywood roads intersection.

Bella Vista will receive a combined $470,400 for a reimaging Highway 71 feasibility study and a trails and greenway master plan update.

Rogers will receive $200,000 for an active mobility bicycle and pedestrian plan.

Washington County will get $119,920 for the replacement of Wheeler Road bridge over Clabber Creek.

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