Fort Smith Board asked to approve $32 million in federal funding requests

Two federal funding requests totaling $32 million are set to be reviewed Tuesday (March 31) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors, with $12 million of that for ongoing work to build a new water transmission line from Lake Fort Smith to the city.

According to the board agenda, the office of U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is accepting “Congressionally Directed Spending requests” to be considered for the federal fiscal year 2027 budget. The deadline for applications is April 5.

The city, according to a memo from Chris Hoover, the city’s grants and government relations manager, to Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, is proposing application requests for $12 million for water transmission line construction, and $20 million for utility relocation necessary for Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) work on Rogers Avenue (Arkansas Highway 22) from Interstate 540 to 74th Street.

The $12 million would build upon a $12 million funding request through Boozman’s office that was approved in 2024. That request recently received approval to waive a required $3 million match by the city. The two new requests could each have a 25% required match. Josh Buchfink, the city’s public relations manager, said the city will likely apply for waivers if the requests are approved.

The city is working to build a 48-inch water transmission line that will extend 33.56 miles from the Lake Fort Smith Water Treatment Plant in Mountainburg to Fort Smith. One cost estimate for a completed line is $328 million. The proposed $12 million request would support the second phase of the work which is a 12.3-mile segment in Crawford County.

“After evaluating the feasibility of several projects, it has been determined that requesting funds to complete section 2A1-2 of the Lake Fort Smith Water Transmission Line would be of great benefit to the city’s water utility, would constitute a compelling funding need, and is eligible for funding through guidelines promulgated by the Senate Appropriations Committee,” Hoover noted in the memo. “Director of Engineering Todd Mittge, based on consultation with City Administration, and feedback from the Board of Directors, contends that the replacement of the water transmission line is a priority for his department and the city.”

A second request for $20 million would help the city relocate utility lines as part of the ARDOT plan to make significant changes along Rogers Avenue in the city. ARDOT officials announced in May 2024 plans to make “capacity improvements” at the Rogers Avenue/Interstate 540 interchange and along the main lanes of Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. The improvements will include the construction of a raised median along the main lanes of Rogers Avenue, and intersection improvements at various signalized intersections along the main lanes of Rogers Avenue.

The improvements will also include widening the road to add capacity to the off-ramps within the footprint of the interchange. There also will be some alignment improvements along several of the left-turn lanes at various signals at intersections along the main lanes of Rogers Avenue. ARDOT said in 2024 that work on the project could begin 2026, and work could take up to two years.

“In preparation for construction, the City will be required to acquire necessary easements and relocate municipal water and sewer utilities currently located within the state right-of-way,” Hoover noted.