Downtown trolley extension possible in 2009
by March 19, 2009 1:11 pm 71 views
Extension of the trolley tracks in downtown Fort Smith could begin before the end of 2009, Bradley Martin and Jayne Hughes said during a Thursday (Mar. 19) commission meeting of the Central Business Improvement District.
The trolley now stretches from the west side of the Fort Smith Convention Center, curves around the west side of the Fort Smith Museum of History and ends near the 200 block of Garrison Avenue.
Martin, who operates the trolley, and Jayne Hughes, staff director for the CBID, said it is likely the city will have about $500,000 for extension during 2009. With the estimated cost of $250 per foot to build, Martin said the trolley could easily be extended east past the Fort Smith Convention Center, travel across Rogers Avenue and end at Garrison Avenue just east of the Town Club.
Future funding could push the trolley west to Miss Laura’s, Hughes and Martin explained.
Other items of downtown Fort Smith interest discussed at the CBID meeting included:
• CBID Chairman Richard Griffin said University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Paul Beran is hopeful to have available by the end of April a survey of student interest about student housing in downtown Fort Smith. The CBID and UAFS first discussed Dec. 17 the possibility of building a 50-unit student housing facility in downtown Fort Smith. Reasonable financing, student interest and approval of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees are a few of the hurdles for the project.
• Streetscaping on Garrison Avenue from 9th Street to the east should begin within 9 months, Hughes told the commission.
• Hughes also said Arkansas & Missouri Railroad officials have agreed to donate a box car for use as a downtown substation for bicycle officers with the Fort Smith Police Department. Hughes said FSPD Capt. David Overton was instrumental in obtaining the donation. The project is in the “early stages” with costs or location unknown.