Where are the traffic snarls? Group wants public input

By The Associated Press

Central Arkansas planners want to hear residents complaints about traffic, no matter how small.

The Metroplan regional planning agency launched an effort Tuesday to hear the public's concerns about neighborhood traffic snarls and safety issues. People with complaints can fill out an online or printed survey form or can attend one of a number of town hall drop-in meetings.

Dubbed "Operation Bottleneck," the program's goal is to identify problem areas and prioritize remedies so communities can smooth out traffic and cut down on energy use and pollution.

"We're aware of the major congestion issues in our area and have identified those in our long-range plans, but we know there are dozens, maybe hundreds of neighborhood problems throughout the region that could be fixed with something as simple as a roundabout or coordinating traffic signals to improve flow," Metroplan executive director Jim McKenzie said.

McKenzie said the smaller problems can often be addressed faster and more easily than major ones. McKenzie said the group wants to know about safety hazards to motorists, bicyclists and walkers.

"Not only will fewer accidents help relieve congestion, but improved safety has its own benefits to our citizens," he said.

The three-week comment period began Tuesday.

The Metroplan regional planning office has scheduled meetings for the public to express traffic and road safety concerns. The meetings will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The dates and locations include:

-Thursday - Hinton Center, 3805 W. 12th St., Little Rock.

-Sept. 16 - McGhee Center, 3800 College Ave., Conway; Benton Municipal Complex, 114 S. East St., Benton.

-Sept. 18 - New Fire Station, 312 Roya Lane, Bryant; South Room, Maumelle Community Center, 1100 Edgewood, Maumelle.

-Sept. 23 - Dogwood Room, Bill Harmon Recreation Center, 51 Shelby Road, Sherwood; Patrick Hays Senior Center, 401 West Pershing, North Little Rock.

-Sept. 25 - Economic Development Room, Cabot Chamber of Commerce, 110 S. First St., Cabot.

-Sept. 30 - Room D, Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Dr.