Rail, I-49 progress noted during RITA meeting (Correction)

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story noted that RITA would own and financially benefit from rail improvements at Chaffee Crossing. It will be the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority that will own the rail.

Development ongoing, development planned and development possible dominated discussion during Wednesday’s (Jan. 12) meeting of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA).

Mat Pitsch, intermodal project manager for the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD), and Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Ivy Owen talked primarily about recent and planned improvements to rail and roads in and around Chaffee Crossing.

RITA is working on an $8 million infrastructure plan, with $5 million sought from federal sources. The plan would improve rail at Chaffee Crossing, begin to develop a 30-acre site near the Van Buren port and build a 50-acre economic development zone at Chaffee Crossing.

Part of that work includes bringing rail service to Mitsubishi’s $100 million wind-turbine assembly plant now under construction at Chaffee Crossing. Pitsch, Owen and Cheryl Garner, vice president of economic development with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, have been working with Fort Smith Railroad, Union Pacific and the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad to improve rail connections in the Fort Smith/Van Buren areas.

Recently, Fort Smith Railroad completed eight miles of rail improvements that should meet Mitsubishi’s load requirements.

“We have to give kudos to Ivy and Cheryl and Fort Smith Railroad for doing that. That is a big deal,” Pitsch said during the RITA board meeting held at the Umarex plant at Chaffee Crossing.

Pitsch also said a lengthy grant application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration is being prepared that may help fund some of the more than $3.5 million needed for rail work.

Garner said UP officials are impressed with the development in Chaffee Crossing, and are considering a “substantial” investment in rail infrastructure in the Fort Smith region.

The rail work is essential because some new rail lines at Chaffee Crossing will be owned by Chaffee Crossing, which will use lease revenue to fund other infrastructure development.

Pitsch and Owen also summarized ongoing work on sections of Interstate 49 through Chaffee Crossing. The work will connect at Arkansas 22 in Barling and travel to near Howard Hill Road. Future phases, of which no estimated time frame was available, will connect the I-49 work to U.S. 71 South between Fort Smith and Greenwood.

Owen said the I-49 segment under construction will be the “backbone” of Chaffee Crossing when completed. Pitsch estimated construction costs to eventually be between $67 million and $100 million.

“The development of this road is probably the most exciting thing going on out here,” Pitsch said, adding that the construction will also create “hundreds of jobs” during the next 18-24 months.

Owen also hinted at other job opportunities. He said the FCRA and the chamber are working with two prospects close to making a location decision.

“Hopefully, in the next month or two, we’ll have an announcement on one of those,” Owen told the RITA board.

Following the meeting, RITA board members, the media and others took a tour of the I-49 construction areas.