Arkansas State Rail Plan Update Open House

LITTLE ROCK (9-16) — The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) will hold a series of public meetings on Tuesday, September 23rd and Thursday, September 25th, between 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The purpose is to seek input about a new statewide rail plan and the possibility of extending high-speed passenger rail service.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend a meeting and to submit comments. Those attending will be able to watch a short presentation that will repeat throughout the duration of the meeting. The study teams for the statewide rail plan and the high-speed passenger rail study will be available to provide information and answer questions.

As the state’s rail planning agency, AHTD has the responsibility to coordinate the development of statewide transportation plans including preparation of the Arkansas State Rail Plan. The plan is an important step in charting a direction for freight and passenger rail in the state and is required for Arkansas to be eligible for existing and prospective federal rail funding. More information about the plan as well as the opportunity to submit comments are available at www.arkansasrailplan.com.

At the same time, AHTD is studying the feasibility of high speed rail in the state. The High-Speed Passenger Rail Feasibility Study consists of the evaluation of extending the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor from Little Rock to Memphis, preparation of a service development plan for the existing Little Rock to Texarkana corridor, and a study of possible impacts of high-speed passenger rail service on Arkansas’ highway system.

Along with the Open Houses, AHTD is also holding a series of Stakeholder Workshops around the state with key freight stakeholders who are knowledgeable and have an interest in rail transportation. This Plan will enable both freight and passenger rail projects in Arkansas to potentially qualify for federal funding under the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. The Plan will establish a vision and priorities for freight and passenger rail in Arkansas for the future. Following the workshops, there will be a public open house at 4:00 p.m. to solicit input from the general public. The Texarkana area meetings will be held:

October 16, 2014, 4-7 pm
Holiday Inn Express – Texarkana East
5210 Crossroads Parkway

Other meetings are

Tuesday, Sept 23, 2014
Arkansas Transit Association
Transit Safety & Resource Ctr.
620 W. Broadway Street
North Little Rock, AR

Thursday, Sept, 25, 2014
River Parks Events Building
121 Riverfront Drive
Fort Smith, AR