2011 Northwest Arkansas Western Beltway Feasibility Study - Final Report Prepared for: Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission Prepared by: Parsons Brinkerhoff, in cooperation with: Garver and Stantec TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction - Why was a study for a Western Beltway Conducted? ....................................................1 Future Transportation Demand and Economic Development ...............................................................2 Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................2 SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS STUDIES ........................................................................................................ 2 What is the Purpose and Need for a Western Beltway? ..................................................................... 20 Future Land use ............................................................................................................................... 22 What Were Public Reactions about a Western Beltway? ................................................................... 22 PUBLIC MEETING ................................................................................................................................. 22 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS ................................................................................................. 23 STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS ................................................................................................................. 24 REPONSES TO WEBSITE QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................... 25 What have the Environmental Investigations Determined? ............................................................... 25 CONSTRAINTS MAP.............................................................................................................................. 25 Environmental Examinations ............................................................................................................ 26 ANTICIPATED LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................... 26 SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE .............................................. 35 AIR QUALITY ......................................................................................................................................... 38 POTENTIAL FOR NOISE IMPACTS ......................................................................................................... 38 VISUAL QUALITY AND AESTEHTEICS .................................................................................................... 39 ECOSYSTEMS ........................................................................................................................................ 39 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................. 42 HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES ..................................................................................... 43 PARKLANDS AND SECTION 4(f) PROPERTIES ....................................................................................... 45 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ........................................................................................................................... 48 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ..................................................................................................................... 48 What Alternatives were Considered in the Study? ............................................................................ 49 TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................................................... 51 What has been done to Increase Accuracy of Traffic Forecasts for Northwest Arkansas? .................... 51 Existing Highway Capacity ................................................................................................................ 52 What are the Findings from the Travel Demand Modeling Performed for the Western Beltway?........ 53 How Would Truck Volumes through the Study Area be Affected if I-49 is Completed Between New Orleans and Kansas City? ................................................................................................................. 56 How Much is the Western Beltway Estimated to Cost? ..................................................................... 60 How Could a Western Beltway be Funded? ....................................................................................... 63 HOW MUCH OF THE FUNDING WOULD TOLLS PROVIDE? .................................................................. 63 Is a Western Beltway Feasible? ........................................................................................................ 70 GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC ............................................................................................ 70 NO FATAL FLAWS AND MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ............... Error! Bookmark not defined. CAN A WESTERN BELTWAY BE FUNDED? ............................................................................................ 71 Partial Beltway Implementation Options .......................................................................................... 71 What are the Major Findings from the Study? ................................................................................... 76 In association with Garver and Stantec Page i OTHER CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................... 76 TABLES Table 1. Population Growth in Northwest Arkansas .................................................................................... 2 Table 2. Northwest Arkansas City and County Population Trends and Projections ................................... 16 Table 3. Crash Rations for I-540 Roadway Segments ................................................................................. 18 Table 4. Crash Ratios for Highway 71/71B Roadway Segments ................................................................. 18 Table 5. Crash Ratios for Highway 112 Roadway Segment......................................................................... 19 Table 6. Crash Ratios for Highway 265 Roadway Segments ....................................................................... 19 Table 7. Corridor and Regional Population by Race and Ethnicity ............................................................. 36 Table 8. Corridor and Regional Low-Income Population ............................................................................ 37 Table 9. Threatened and Endangered Species in Benton and Washington Counties ................................ 41 Table 10. Cost Estimates for Roadway Items .............................................................................................. 61 Table 11. Periodic Rehabilitation and Replacement Costs ......................................................................... 61 Table 12. Annual Operations and Maintenance Costs................................................................................ 62 Table 13. Total Cost for Western Beltway .................................................................................................. 62 Table 14. Daily Vehicle Estimates North of US 412..................................................................................... 65 Table 15. Private Source Funding Options .................................................................................................. 69 FIGURES Figure 1. Change in City Area in Square Miles from 1990 to 2010 ............................................................. 28 Figure 2. Population Change in NWA Cities and County Areas (2000 to 2010) .......................................... 32 Figure 3. Employment Trends (2000 – 2009) .............................................................................................. 33 Figure 4. NWA Residential Building Permits by Type 1990 - 2010 ............................................................. 34 Figure 5. Growth in Minority Populations (2000 – 2010) ........................................................................... 35 Figure 6. Corridor Alternatives Map ........................................................................................................... 50 Figure 7. 2035 Alternative 2 – VOC & Employment .................................................................................... 52 Figure 8. 2035 Alternative 2 – Flow & Employment ................................................................................... 54 Figure 9. 2035 Alternative 2 & I-540 AM Speeds ........................................................................................ 55 Figure 10. Freight Flows through the Central United States ...................................................................... 58 Figure 11. Increased Freight Flow through Northwest Arkansas with Completion of I-49 ........................ 59 Figure 12. Screenline Locations .................................................................................................................. 64 Figure 13. Annual Revenue and Cost (Year of Expenditure Dollars, 000s) ................................................. 67 Figure 14. 2035 Base Alternative: Full Western Beltway, No Hwy 112 Improvements ............................. 72 Figure