Members of Rock Region Metro's board will meet with Pulaski County's chief executive and area mayors in the coming days to gauge support for the transit system's proposed $23.3 million service expansion.
For now, board members say they want and need a commitment from Rock Region Metro's local partners to keep the same level of funding they have provided in the past as the agency develops support for the initiative, which will also require voter approval of a one-quarter percentage point increase in the county sales tax. That is the maximum amount by law that can be dedicated to mass transit.
"The mayors and county judge -- if they are not on board and not excited, I believe we have very little chance of succeeding," board member Jimmy Moses of Little Rock said Monday at a meeting of the board's strategic planning committee.
"Quite frankly, what we're asking for is the status quo," said Lawrence Finn of North Little Rock, the committee chairman. "We're not asking [them] for additional funding."
The initiative likely will include creation of an advocacy group and the possible hiring of a consultant to help raise money and run the campaign for the tax increase. Moses said he envisions a campaign budget of $50,000 to $100,000, "maybe more."
Members of the strategic committee said they want to convene again soon after meeting with Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and other mayors to discuss their next step, likely in concert with informal advisers who could include Bobby Roberts, the director of the Central Arkansas Library System; Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service; and former Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines.
All three have past experience with successful targeted campaigns.
At the suggestion of board member Art Kinnaman of Pulaski County, transit system director Jarod Varner said he will develop a campaign timeline.
The board members want to build on the momentum they say has been created by the new name for the agency -- it formally shed its old name, Central Arkansas Transit Authority, earlier this month -- and the rollout of 15 buses featuring the new name and new paint design.
All of Rock Region Metro's buses also are now equipped with free Wi-Fi for their riders. By Sept. 30, a GPS-based mobile app, called Metro Tracker, will be available to provide real-time passenger information for its users.
Those features, along with the 15 buses powered by compressed natural gas, are part of a bid to attract new riders, particularly people who don't have to rely on transit.
Moses said a successful campaign will pay dividends for the economic vitality of the region.
"If we pull this off, Little Rock and Central Arkansas is going to leap forward," Moses said. "Over the next 5 to 15 years, it will pay off."
Metro on 08/25/2015