NWA Life

66 • nwa life • 3.29.2020 Northwest Arkansas' burgeoning business and population growth — 28.5 people are added daily — calls for timely expansion of access, and state officials in the transportation arena are working hard to make it happen. A recent innovation toward that end is a name change for the airport. XNA in Benton County was a regional airport until December 11, 2019, when the airport board voted to call it Northwest Arkansas National Airport. The name change is important "because it represents a more accurate description of what XNA has to offer our travelers to and from Northwest Arkansas," said Alex Holder English, a public relations and marketing specialist at the airport. "The general perception of a regional airport is that the nonstop flights will only include regional destinations, and that is definitely not the case at XNA. The Northwest Arkansas National Airport proudly services flights from coast to coast, and we continue to add nonstop flights to numerous cities throughout the country. As a national airport, we hope to attract even more direct destinations for our passengers at XNA." Currently, the airport serves 19 nonstop destinations, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Denver, Chicago, Las Vegas, Las Angeles and other cities. The need for increased access to the airport has long been recognized, and plans are in the works for a connector road, overseen by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. "We're excited at the forward movement on this project," English said. "Looking ahead at the future of XNA and the continual growth of passengers, this new road will help provide safe and efficient access to the airport." She explained that this essential connector road is in the Environmental Assessment (EA) stage of design, a process estimated to be finished by July 2021, with road construction to begin shortly after. "Funding for the road is reliant on the passage of the half-cent sales tax in November," she said. To learn about the proposed alignment alternatives being considered, go to xnaaccess. transportationplanroom.com. Another favorable improvement in the region's transportation system is the Bella Vista Bypass corridor, a component of the Connecting Arkansas Program, or CAP, that was approved by voters in 2012. The much-needed corridor will connect with Interstate 49 in McDonald County, Missouri, and provide direct access to neighborhoods and businesses south and west of Bella Vista. Overall it will enhance road travel in Northwest Arkansas and improve safety. For a detailed look at projects and progress of the Bella Vista Bypass corridor, visit https:// connectingarkansasprogram.com/ corridors/19/highway-549-benton- county/ . Besides better roads, residents and visitors are benefiting from novel and efficient approaches to transit – from new buses to "on-demand transit." In addition to fixed routs there are rideshare and expanded routes and facilities for bicyclers and pedestrians. Here are some highlights: On-demand transit Get where you want to go, not by hailing a taxi or an Uber, but a bus! This innovative service, made available in the City of Rogers by Ozark Regional Transit (ORT), allows riders to use an app, email or phone call to request a trip. The request automatically goes to a bus, which then picks them up at a transit stop. Call 479-756-5901 for more information. Passio GO This app, sponsored by ORT, is another rider-friendly perk that allows riders to conveniently select and track their preferred routes. Students at the University of Arkansas especially appreciate being able to monitor Razorback Transit bus routes on their smartphones. Check out https:// passiogo.com/ Niokaska Creek Trail As part of the ongoing development of the 37+-mile Razorback Regional Greenway from Bella Vista to Fayetteville, a new trail corridor was begun in November 2019 and will be finished in the late summer of 2020. "Over 4,000 people live within a half-mile of the trail," said Matt Mihalevich, Trails Coordinator for the City of Fayetteville. "They'll have a safe, comfortable facility to walk or ride bikes on to get to their destinations. The trail provides a nice recreational experience." The trail is two miles and joins the .09-mile Old Wire Cycle Track in East Fayetteville. "People love it," he said. The Razorback Regional Greenway is considered one of the most unique of its kind in the nation, connecting six NWA communities: Bentonville, Rogers, Lowell, Springdale, Johnson, and Fayetteville. " " ...The Northwest Arkansas National Airport proudly services flights from coast to coast, and we continue to add nonstop flights to numerous cities throughout the country.. Alex Holder English Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Northwest Arkansas National Airport transportation

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