Highway Commission May Get Legislative Overhaul

Arkansas is the only state where the Highway Commission has no committee or agency overseeing it, a fact that could change with a proposal soon to hit the floor at the 83rd General Assembly.

Arkansas trucking industry officials and members of the state Legislature have varying opinions on the current way in which state highway commissioners are appointed by the governor rather than elected by the public. But members of both parties agree that a new path may need to be taken before the best solution is reached.

Currently, highway commissioners are appointed to 10-year terms by the governor, and they don’t have to answer to a government-supported committee on how funds are appropriated. The Game and Fish Commission is the only other state-funded agency that has no committee overseeing it, but its appointed commissioners serve just seven-year terms.

“Sometimes [the Highway Commission] is considered the fourth branch of government,” said Bill Vickery, a political consultant for the Citizens for Safe and Efficient Highways, a group pushing the election proposal. “It is so powerful. The Highway Commission can do whatever they want with hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s a scary thing in today’s political environment.”

Other parties would also like to see the commissioners elected, with much shorter terms. Ideas on the length of terms range from two, four and seven years to 10. One problem with shorter terms is the length a highway project takes.

Northwest Arkansas, home to several trucking companies and flourishing industries, could be at the center of attention when the bill is introduced in the General Assembly, likely by state Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Little Rock.

State Rep. Shirley Borhauer, R-Bella Vista, said Interstate 540 in her district could use some special attention from both politicians and the trucking community.

“It would be nice if the trucking industry as a group would donate money for [I-540],” Borhauer said. “But the chances of that happening are slim and none. Don’t get me wrong, I have no argument with the truckers. Bella Vista has been inundated now that 540 has opened. But they don’t use any other route now, and [the trucks] are the ones tearing up the roads.”

Borhauer said she opposes electing commissioners, yet welcomes other changes to the current system.

A boost for those wanting the election of commissioners came just before the gathering of the General Assembly, when Arkansas’ two U.S. senators, Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat, and Tim Hutchinson, a Republican, supported the idea.

“Accountability is the issue,” Vickery said. “This would create a sense of accountability back to the general public. Right now, there’s no one to watch what’s going on behind closed doors.

“If you speak to any business leader in the state, especially in Northwest Arkansas, you’ll hear them complain that for too long an area thriving such as Northwest Arkansas has been ignored by the Highway Commission. It’s just not right.”

Many trucking industry officials whom the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal contacted or attempted to contact refrained from commenting on the issue. However, Robert Young III, president and CEO of Arkansas Best Corp., said that while the current system has some merit, it could stand some tinkering.

“I think the proposal put out to elect commissioners is a reasonable proposal because it would make the Highway Commission more responsive to the people,” Young said. “The current 10-year terms are awfully long. Once they’re appointed, they’re there 10 years. Maybe they could just be four-year or two-year terms. It would be a more democratic approach to spending our highway dollars.”

Young said the ideal election would call for a total of eight commissioners to be elected, two from each congressional district. Currently, there are just five commissioners.

“With two from each district, you would tend to have the desires of the people more widely heard,” Young said.

State Rep. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, said he wanted more input before deciding.

“I want to hear more from both sides on it,” Holt said. “I’m leaning toward [favoring an election]. I always think people should be allowed to vote. And there wouldn’t be any political favors involved.

“But it would save the taxpayers a lot of money if we let it stay the way it is.”

As for the support of the state’s U.S. senators, Borhauer said, “What the Quorum Court thinks is going on in the state and what’s going on in the country don’t always mesh.”