METROPLAN2015

1955

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1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015

Metroplan’s 60th anniversary

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The anniversaries of Metroplan and the Little Rock Air Force Base (LRAFB) are inextricably linked: The LRAFB was a large catalyst in the formation of Metroplan.

1950sCommittee of 100

1955:Act260f1955,AnActToEnablePoliticalSubdivisionsToCooperateJointlyInAreaPlanning

1955:MetropolitanAreaPlanningCommission(PulaskiCounty)established

Initial Plans

1956:“ProposedHighwaySystem”1957:PreliminaryDevelopmentPlanforPulaskiCounty1957:“PlanforHalfMillionPeople”

Park Plans

1958:“APreliminaryReportontheRecreationalUseofLakeMaumelle”&“SiteLayoutsforaBasicRecreationalPlanonLakeMaumelle”

1959:“APlanforBurnsPark”

Metroplan was created in 1955 by local political and civic leaders, acting out of necessity and inspired by the principle that the metropolitan area was one community and that the problems and solutions of each entity were shared by all.

Metroplan was initially named the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC).

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1960sMajor Plans

1962:“IndustrialGrowthPlan”1962:Reflectingthefederalemphasisonurbanrenewalprograms,MAPC

madeanapplicationtotheHousingandHomeFinanceAgencyforafederalgranttoundertakeurbanrenewalprogramsincentralArkansas.

1964:ComprehensiveDevelopmentPlan1965:“AdamsFieldAirportPlan”1965:“CivilDefensePlan”1966:PulaskiAreaTransportationStudy-HighwayTransportationPlanand

ImplementationProgram MAPCBoardrecommendsconsolidatingschooldistrictsinPulaski

County1967:MasterPlanReport:WaterSupplyandDistribution TransitPlanningStudy:LR,NLRArea1968:1990ComprehensiveDevelopmentPlan

Stuart Eurman

In 1966, Director Stuart Eurman left MAPC to organize and direct a similar regional council in Kansas City, MO, and Jason Rouby was hired in his place

Jason Rouby

In 1960, jets began flying into the Little Rock airport, Adams Field.

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In 1970, MAPC reorganized as a council of local governments and changed its name to METROPLAN.

Open Space

1970:PublishedOpenSpacePlanandProgram1971:PartneredwithArkansasChapteroftheAmericanInstituteofArchitects

tocreateapark/openspacedesignforthePulaskiCountybanksoftheArkansasRiver,whichwouldbecomeRiverfrontPark.

1972:BecametrusteeforCentralArkansasTransit1974:GovernorDaleBumpersdesignatedMetroplantheMetropolitanPlanning

Organization(MPO)forCentralArkansas

The Environment

1977:DesignatedleadagencyforwaterqualityplanningauthorizedbySection208oftheFederalWaterPollutionControlAct

1978:Designatedleadagencyforairqualityandwastedisposalplanning

“A shift of emphasis to environmental areas brought Metroplan closer to establishment of an integrated planning program.”

—1978 Annual Report

1970sIn 1972, Metroplan became the trustee for Central Arkansas Transit.

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Major Plans

1981:PublishedMaumelleCorridorControlAccessPlan1983:ProposedSouthLoop

Time for Change

1980:TransitionPlanforMetroplanandCATdeveloped1988:JasonRoubyretiredasMetroplanDirectorafter22yearsofservice.

RoubywasreplacedbyJimMcKenzie1988:CATAformallyspunoff1989:MetroplanbecametheadministrativeagentforPulaskiCounty911,

managinganddispensingtaxcollectionsdesignatedfor911operations

Public Policy

1989:TheMetroplanBoardestablishedapublicpolicyresearchprogram.Initsfirstyear,theprogrampublished:

“AnAnalysisofStateGeneralRevenueTurnbackinArkansas” “JailOvercrowdingInPulaskiCounty:APreliminaryAssessment”

1980sClean Water

In1982FourcheCreekUrbanRunoffProjectandLakeMaumelleCleanLakesProjectcompleted.

Photo: Fourche Creek. Sync Weekly.

Jim McKenzie, 1995

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Public Policy

Inthe1990s,MetroplanBoardcontinueditspublicpolicyresearchprogram.Throughtheprogram,Metroplanpublished:

“ArkansasLocalGovernmentTaxCapacity” “MetropolitanRegionalSolidWasteStudy”

“This new transportation bill, with its strong emphasis on comprehensive planning, provides us with tremendous challenges, but it also requires us to develop new planning capacities and to work cooperatively toward a common goal in entirely new ways.”

Plans and Studies

1998:AccessManagementPlanforHwy.60/DaveWardDriveapproved1999:Regionalbikewayplandeveloped I-630studycompleted

1990sphoto

In 1991, Metroplan initiated its broadest reorganization since 1970

1991:CentralArkansasRegionalTransportationStudy(CARTS)replacedPATS(PulaskiAreaTransportationStudy)

CongresspassedtheIntermodalSurfaceTransportationEfficiencyAct(ISTEA)

TransportationAdvisoryCouncil(TAC)formed1995:METRO2020adopted,1stpost-ISTEAlong-rangetransportationplan1998:TransportationEquityActforthe21stCenturyreplacesISTEA

Argenta 1995

AlothaschangedsincethisLittleRockphotofrom1996.

Clinton Library and ParkRiver Market BuildingMain LibraryFirst Security Tower300 Third TowerRiver Market Tower

Acxiom HeadquartersHeifer Intl HeadquartersNew Main St. Bridge configurationCATA Travel CenterSeveral hotelsCapital Commerce Building

Historic Arkansas MuseumChamber of Commerce BuildingConvention Center ExpansionRiver Rail TrolleyRiverfront Park ImprovementsArcade Building

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In2000,MetroplanReceivedtheNationalAwardforOutstandingLeadershipinMetropolitanTransportationPlanningpresentedbytheAssociationofMetropolitanPlanningOrganizations.

2000s Plans and Studies

2000:METRO2025wasadopted. TheVisionandGoalswerepublished:RiverRailtrolley

systemopenedin2004,spurringeconomicdevelopmentonbothsidesoftheriver.

2001:RuralTrafficShedManagementStudy RegionalArterialNetworkStudy2002:IncidentManagementStudyadopted RegionalArterialNetwork(RAN)studycompletedbyconsultants2004:SouthLoopstudyinitiated RiverRailtrolleysystemopened2005: METRO2030adopted

RoadwayanalysisconductedforI-30study CARTSremainedinattainmentforairquality

2006:RiverdaleTrafficStudyInitiated AlcoaRoadAccessManagementPlanAdopted SouthLoopFeasibilityStudyandEnvironmentalAnalysisConducted

1.EconomicGrowth2.EqualityofAccessand

TransportationChoice3.EnvironmentalQuality

4.LandUse5.QualityTransportationCorridors6.FundingAdequacy

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2000s

“Metroplan Council of Local Governments… provided leadership in bringing together our member jurisdictions.”

Plans and Studies

2007:CARTSDesignandAccessManagementStandardsadopted CARTSPedestrian/BicycleDecade(1995-2005)CrashAnalysiscompleted2008: I-630/I-430InterchangeDesignConceptapproved LRAirportRailStudyinitiated2009:Censustractandtrafficzoneboundariesapprovedfor2010Census OperationBottleneckundertaken I-630FixedGuidewayAlignmentStudyconsultantselectedandscopeof

workdeveloped

Theinitialmeetingofsmallandlargewatersystemstookplacein2001.AfewyearslaterthegroupIncorporatedastheMid-ArkansasWaterAlliance,to“securelong-termsourcesofhigh-qualitydrinkingwaterforitsmembership.”

Photo: Lake Maumelle. Coloradoguy.com.

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2010sArkansas River Trail Memorandum of Understanding was signed on May 23, 2012.

The Arkansas River Trail

2006:BigDamBridgeopened2011:TwoRiversParkBridgecompleted2012:MemorandumofUnderstandingsignedby11entities2012:MetroplanandtheArkansasRiverTrailTaskForcecoordinatedthe

designofalogo,Websiteandsignage.

Plans and Studies

2010:METRO2030.2adopted ConwayTransitFeasibilityStudycompleted2011:RANStatusUpdatepublished GreenAgendaadopted CARTSstudyareaexpanded TheTACwasrenamedRPAC(RegionalPlanningAdvisoryCouncil),and

thefocusoftheupcomingPlanwasbroadenedtoincludesustainabil-ityandhousing,

2012:PikeAvenuePedestrian/BikeSafeyStudycompleted2013:I-630FixedGuidewayStudy(lightrailincentralArkansas)2014:LivabilityIndexwascompletedanddesignedasaWebsite

Riders lined up to cross the Big Dam Bridge to the MOU press conference.

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2010sImagine Central Arkansas was adopted in December, 2014.

Imagine Central Arkansas and HUD Sustainability Grant

2011:MetroplanreceivedaSustainableCommunitiesgrantfromHUD (U.S.Dept.ofHousingandUrbanDevelopment)

TheRPACnamedtheupcomingLong-RangePlanImagine Central Arkansas

2012:ImagineCentralArkansasPartners(ICAP)wasformed Imagine Central Arkansas publicoutreachbegan2013:FiveJumpStartareaswerechosenaspartoftheHUDgrant(inLittle

Rock,Bryant,NorthLittleRockandConway).2014: Imagine Central Arkansas: Blueprint for a Sustainable Region

wasadoptedbytheBoardonDecember14,2014 FairHousingEquityAssessmentcompleted ViloniaandMayflowerwereaddedasJumpStartprojects2015:JumpStartplanningprocesscompleted

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Major Construction Projects

2011:NorthLittleRockandConwayroundaboutsopened2012:WideningI-40tosixlanes-LittleRocktoConwaybegun WideningU.S.Hwy67tosixlanes-JacksonvilletoCabotbegun ImprovementstoI-30connectingLittleRockandNorthLittleRock

planned WideningUSHwy64tofourlanes-ConwaytoBeebebegun WideningofUSHwy70tofourlanesbetweenI-30andHotSprings

planned2013: SouthLoopRailGradeSeparationCompletion MilitaryRoadWidening LevyTrail SouthStreetStreetscapeBenton HaskellSidewalks2014:GrahamRoadWidening ShillcuttBayouBridge

MainandHarrisRoundabout WideningAlcoaRoadbegun McCainRailgradeSeparationbegun

2010sIn 2012, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was signed into law. MAP-21 provides needed funds and will guide the growth and development of the country’s vital transportation infrastructure.

A familiar sight on central Arkansas roadways.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21

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LogosThe name and the logo have gone through many changes over the last 60 years.

Metroplan Board Presidents

Metroplan  Board  Presidents

Year Name

1955 Mr.  Raymond  Rebsamen1956 Mr.  Raymond  Rebsamen1957 Mr.  M.S.  McCord1958 Mr.  Sam  Strauss,  Sr.1959 Mr.  Sam  Strauss,  Sr.1960 Mr.  John  P  Ma8hews1961 Mr.  John  P  Ma8hews1962 Mr.  Gus  O8enheimer1963 Mr.  Howard  Eichenbaum1964 Mr.  Howard  Eichenbaum1965 Mr.  Kenneth  Pat  Wilson  1966 Mr.  James  Binder1967 Mr.  James  Binder1968 Mr.  James  Binder1969 Mr.  James  Binder1970 Mayor  W.  F.  (Casey)  Laman1971 Mayor  W.  F.  (Casey)  Laman1972 Mayor  Dean  Boswell1973 Mayor  Dean  Boswell1974 Judge  B.  Frank  Mackey1975 Judge  B.  Frank  Mackey  /  Mr.  Jack  Young

1976 Mr.  Jack  Young  /Mayor    B.E.  (Bill)  Henson1977 Mayor  B.E.  (Bill)  Henson1978 Mayor  B.E.  (Bill)  Henson1979 Mr.  William  H.  McLean1980 Mayor  James  Reid1981 Judge  W.E.  Beaumont,  Jr.  1982 Judge  W.E.  Beaumont,  Jr.  1983 Mr.  Russell  H.  Matson,  Jr.  1984 Mayor  J.W.  Benafield1985 Mayor  J.W.  Benafield1986 Mayor  Jack  Evans1987 Judge  Don  Venhaus1988 Judge  Don  Venhaus1989 Mayor  Harold  McInPre1990 Mayor  Sharon  Priest1991 Mayor  Pat  Hays1992 Mayor  Tommy  Swaim1993 Judge  Buddy  Villines1994 Judge  Terry  Parsons1995 Mayor  David  Kinley

1996 Judge  Don  Bevis1997 Mayor  Bill  Harmon1998 Mayor  Jim  Dailey1999 Judge  John  W.  Carter2000 Mayor  Joe  Allman2001 Mayor  Tab  Townsell2002 Judge  Lanny  Fite2003 Mayor  Pat  Hays2004 Mayor  Paul  Halley2005 Mayor  Frank  Pearce2006 Mayor  Burch  Johnson2007 Mayor  Richard  Holland2008 Mayor  Tab  Townsell2009 Mayor  Art  Brooke2010 Mayor  Mark  Stodola2011 Judge  Preston  Scroggin2012 Mayor  Mike  Watson2013 Mayor  Bill  Cypert2014 Judge  Jeff  Arey2015 Mayor  Randy  Holland

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Metroplan Board 2015

PRESIDENTMayor Randy HollandCityofMayflower

VICE PRESIDENTMayor Gary FletcherCityofJacksonville

SECRETARYMayor Art BrookeCityofWard

TREASURERMayor Jill DabbsCityofBryant

MayorPaulMitchellCityofAlexander

MayorBernadetteChamberlainCityofAustin

MayorBillRussellCityofBauxite

Mr.DavidTwiggsHotSpringsVillage

MayorMarkStodolaCityofLittleRock

MayorWayneMcGeeCityofLonoke

MayorMikeWatsonCityofMaumelle

MayorRickyPearceCityofMountVernon

MayorJoeSmithCityofNorthLittleRock

MayorMikeKempCityofShannonHills

MayorJoeWiseCityofSheridan

MayorVirginiaYoungCityofSherwood

MayorMichaelNashCityofTraskwood

MayorTerryDonRobinsonCityofWooster

MayorMcKinzieL.RileyCityofWrightsville

MayorJamesFirestoneCityofVilonia

JudgeJimBakerFaulknerCounty

MayorDavidMattinglyCityofBenton

MayorBillCypertCityofCabot

MayorDavidGrafCityofCammackVillage

JudgeKempNallGrantCounty

JudgeDougErwinLonokeCounty

JudgeBarryHydePulaskiCounty

JudgeJeffAreySalineCounty

Ms.JessieJonesArkansasStateHighwayandTransportationDepartment

Mr.JarodVarnerCATA/RockRegionMetro

MayorTabTownsellCityofConway

MayorSammyHartwickCityofGreenbrier

MayorJanieLymanCityofHaskell

“While it is always nice to reflect on the achievements of the past, the challenges of the future are pressing down on us today. As we rise to meet them, and I feel certain we will, the future of Central Arkansas looks bright indeed.”

—1995, Jim McKenzie, Executive Director

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Metroplan Staff 2015

JimMcKenzie,AICP ExecutiveDirector

RichardMagee,AICP DeputyDirector

CindySegebarth Administrator

CaseyCovington,PE,AICP TransportationEngineer CARTSStudyDirector

LynnBell GraphicsSpecialist

SusanDollar,AICP TransportationPlanner/ TitleIV/ADA/504

RebeccaDong StaffAccountant

HansHaustein GISPlanner

DanielHolland Planner

JonathanLupton,AICP ResearchPlanner

TimothyMiles,CPCU,ARM RiskAdministrator

JeffRunder GISPlanner

AllenSkaggs GIS/PlanningTechnician

IrisWoods Receptionist