Northwest Arkansas Council stresses infrastructure needs
Northwest Arkansas needs to find money to pay for necessary infrastructure to accommodate the region's growth, Northwest Arkansas Council president Nelson Peacock said Thursday. Why it matters: The region only knows where about half of the estimated $6 billion needed for transportation through 2050 is coming from, Peacock said. Driving the news: The Northwest Arkansas Council hosted its annual winter meeting Thursday and released its report on the region's economy and growth in the past year. NWA also needs about $2.4 billion in wastewater work, Peacock said. In a survey of council members, 83% identified infrastructure strain as a top growth concern. What they're saying: Peacock stressed the need for cities to work together, noting stormwater "doesn't really care where the city boundary is." NWA should examine whether wastewater should be addressed under a regional or shared governance system that could help coordinate investments and share operating responsibilities and costs, he said. The council is helping coordinate an effort to create consistent standards for installing utilities across NWA cities, as developers running into inconsistent requirements can drive up costs. The big picture: The council has a history of supporting projects intended to benefit the whole region, like Northwest Arkansas National
Northwest Arkansas, AR · 8h
