CBID notes frustration with ARDOT report on downtown Fort Smith truck traffic

Members of the Fort Smith Central Business Improvement District (CBID) expressed frustration with a final report from the Arkansas Department and Transportation (ARDOT) about options to remove heavy truck traffic from downtown Fort Smith.

ARDOT officials issued the report to the city of Fort Smith in September after several months of study. Part of the work included an Oct. 3, 2024, public input session in Fort Smith.

The 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.

The CBID, a semi-autonomous body governing downtown Fort Smith, has been a vocal advocate in recent years for ways to either remove or reduce heavy truck traffic in the downtown. CBID Commissioner Phil White said at the group’s Thursday (Nov. 20) meeting that the ARDOT study wasn’t helpful.

“The problem with this ARDOT study is that it tells us everything we already know,” White said. “But it does not give us any direction to go. They spent a lot of time telling us what we already know. … There is no meat to it.”

THE REPORT
ARDOT’S report analyzed two basic options, a western downtown loop, and a route requiring downtown street modifications. (Link here to download a copy of the report.)

The downtown loop would 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.

The total estimated cost of this alternative is $120 million, including $70 million for construction, according to the report.

The street modification alternative would require changes and improvements 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 the downtown loop, this concept would reduce truck traffic on Garrison Avenue, which would make the downtown area more pedestrian friendly and provide an opportunity for rightsizing. The modification plan would have fewer impacts on downtown properties.

The total estimated cost for this alternative is $70 million, including $40 million for construction, ARDOT noted.

The ARDOT report offered the following conclusion.
“Two alternatives for redistributing traffic on Highway 64 (Garrison Avenue) through downtown Fort Smith were developed. Both alternatives would address the purpose of and need for improvements – enhancing safety and economic competitiveness of downtown Fort Smith while maintaining truck mobility – though both alternatives would have challenges.

“While construction of a new Arkansas River bridge would improve mobility and connectivity of the highway system, a new major river crossing would be very costly and face many environmental and coordination challenges.

“No funding has been identified for any improvements identified as part of this study. Additionally, traffic re-distribution would require significant changes to city streets, which must be initiated by the local jurisdiction. Further analysis is needed to refine the scope in order to minimize adverse effects.”

The report also looked at adding river bridges north and south of Garrison Avenue, but determined that such options were too costly.

“To summarize, all the proposed bridge alternatives are expected to have significant feasibility challenges, including conflicts with existing buildings and infrastructure, the need for multistate collaboration, limited effectiveness for reducing downtown traffic, and high costs,” noted the ARDOT report.

‘CONTINUE TO PUSH’
Fort Smith Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman said it was no surprise the ARDOT report did not provide solutions or direction because rerouting downtown traffic is a complex and expensive problem that has been discussed and debated for decades with no solutions.

“I don’t think the CBID should spend a lot of time focusing on it because it is not one we are going to be able to fix with our small group,” Dingman said.

Commissioner Trent Goins said it may be that a solution is to make Garrison Avenue more difficult for trucks to navigate. He suggested using “barriers” like crosswalks and other elements that force trucks to drive slower or “come to full stops.”

“Like Phil (White), I’ve studied this for years,” Goins said. “On both sides. And the only thing I can tell you is the only way that we could affect any change is to figure out what we can do to make it so miserable that truckers don’t want to drive down Garrison.”

Goins also noted that “there are companies in this town” that will fight any changes because it will cost them “millions of dollars to re-route their trucking route.” He said the best solution is a new bridge, but, as the report noted, that option is too expensive.

Commissioner sentiment at the end of Thursday’s discussion was to keep working on the issue, continue to seek ideas to remove or reduce the traffic, collaborate with other groups also interested in downtown truck traffic, and consider strategies that could deliver success.

“I don’t think we throw our hands up,” said CBID Chair Bill Hanna. “We don’t stop. Let’s continue to push on this. Maybe it’s the (Fort Smith) regional council that has more impact here, and that’s fine too. I just hate to say, “Hey, it’s not going to happen. It’s not going to work.’ But I agree, it is a mountain.”