LR won't see River Rail run to the airport

Panel backs study saying route lacks enough economic benefit

— River Rail's next extension of its streetcar service will have to go somewhere other than toward Little Rock's airport, on the basis of a consultant's findings, city and county officials said Wednesday.

An initial study of possible routes linking the electric streetcars from the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock to Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field, said the potential economic benefits of the extension wouldn't offset the $70 million to $105 million cost to build it, officials said.

It was "really clear at this point" in the study's preliminary data, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines said, that "the economic development it created was not going to be enough ... to warrant an investment of these kind of dollars."

The focus of the expansion study will now shift to possible routes in Little Rock and North Little Rock that could connect to existing and developing business and residential corridors in the two cities.

A panel including Pulaski County, Little Rock and North Little Rock elected officials made the decision after hearing a consultant's report on Tuesday. The three governments share the costs of River Rail and requested the feasibility study for expanding to the airport.

The studied routes were 4 to 5 miles long and would have connected to the airport's terminal from the streetcars' easternmost stop near the Clinton presidential library and Heifer International.

Four possible routes were studied, with a $1.4 million yearly operating cost and an average of 84 riders per day, said Betty Wineland, executive director for Central Arkansas Transit Authority, which manages River Rail.

The $299,000 study is being done by URS Corp. of Fort Worth. About $195,000 remains out of that, officials said Wednesday, to refocus the study on different options for an extension.

"We decided to come back and amend the scope of the second phase of the study to look at the potential in Little Rock and North Little Rock," Wineland said. "We want to look at a plan where we can develop more within the communities."

The airport study did identify a preferred route to the airport approaching from the south for any future light rail that might aid in planning for coming terminal renovations, said T.J. Williams, an airport spokesman.

"The decision does not rule out the ultimate extension of the River Rail to the airport but acknowledges that there are otheralternatives for the next phase of rail extension that offer a greater economic benefit relative to the cost," Williams said.

In 2004, River Rail opened a $20 million, initial, 2 1 /2-mile section along two loops in Little Rock and North Little Rock, connected by rails crossing the Arkansas River on the Main Street Bridge.

A $9 million second phase opened in 2007 to the Clinton library and Heifer International. That link was designed to accommodate a future extension to the airport.

An interlocal agreement gives North Little Rock the next option for expansion because the second phase is entirely in Little Rock. However, Mayor Patrick Hays of North Little Rock said previously that he would forfeit that option if the airport extension would come next.

"Based on the findings, that kind of investment at this point was not prudent," Hays said Wednesday of the airport extension. "What we will move forwardwith is with Little Rock and North Little Rock identifying a stage three and stage four for expansion and where we want it to go and how we could do it."

Hays said that while he would favor a route extension that helps connect what's offered in both cities, he wants to look at all possibilities in North Little Rock, including going north from downtown instead of east or west along the river.

"At this point, I don't know what would be the best route," Hays said. "Based on the interlocal agreement, it's our turn."

Arkansas, Pages 9, 14 on 08/27/2009

Upcoming Events