The City of Conway has been awarded $24.6 million from the United States Department of Transportation to construct the Connect Conway greenway trail. The money comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.
Connect Conway aims to build a safe, equitable, and accessible transportation system through investment in 15 miles of bike and pedestrian infrastructure, providing a viable transportation option for many by connecting ten city parks, seven schools, three major retail areas, three higher education institutions, fourteen major employment centers, sixteen neighborhoods, and other vital community services.
"I'd like to thank our team at the City Hall who put in the work to get the job done successfully," said Mayor Bart Castleberry. "A number of community stakeholders came together to work on a short timeframe on this historic endeavor. I'd especially like to thank Finley Vinson, Felicia Rogers, Robbie Alberson, Aaron Knight, James Walden, and Kurt Jones."
Most of Conway's existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure is in the city's western portion. Connect Conway will create a crucial link between the eastern parts of Conway and west Conway, providing more equitable access to services and opportunities.
"The name of the project rings true to what the project is all about: connecting Conway," said Planning & Development Director James Walden. "This will be a tremendous recreational asset. But it provides a real transportation option for those who can't or choose not to drive."
Full economic and community participation is nearly impossible for those without access to a personal automobile. The construction of Connect Conway will provide a tangible and significant benefit to those community residents and stakeholders by increasing personal mobility with a safe, accessible transportation alternative.
"This grant will enable us to take a huge step to provide a viable alternative for the people of Conway to vehicular transportation through inter-connectivity between parks, schools, neighborhoods, and commercial centers," said City Engineer Kurt Jones. "We've taken small steps in the past. This is a giant leap."
Connect Conway's work began four years ago and has evolved and been refined over the past several years. Grant applications were developed as early as 2018 and submitted in previous application rounds.
A Project Advisory Committee was formed for this application to guide the process and provide valuable input. The committee consisted of members from the University of Central Arkansas, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Conway Development Corporation, Hendrix College, Conway Corp, Community Action Program for Central Arkansas (CAPCA), Conway Public Schools, Conway's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Central Baptist College, and Community at Large members. City Council member Shelley Mehl helped lead the committee along with city staff.
After the public engagement process, engineering work began, and programming was identified and compiled. Crafton Tull, an engineering and planning firm, provided technical assistance, preliminary engineering, and environmental information that aided the grant application.
The development and writing of the application was led by the City's Grant Administrator Robbie Alberson, Director of Planning and Development James Walden, Chief Information Officer Aaron Knight, Transportation Director and City Engineer Kurt Jones, and Long-Range Planner Kyle Kelly. This team met weekly for nearly 11 months, developing a competitive application that met the US Department of Transportation's requirements for the RAISE program. Letters of support were also garnered from valuable partners and leaders in the community, including Senators Boozman and Cotton and Congressman Hill. The application was submitted on April 14, 2022.
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