'New urbanism' a factor in public transit plans

The Conway City Council held a special meeting Monday to give their input on a planned public transit system for the city.

Dr. A.T. Stoddard III of Colorado Springs-based LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc., gave a presentation covering much of the same ground as did LSC senior planner Kyle Kosman during an LSC public input session held in November.

The concept remains the same: A city bus system, or something like one, would operate along routes that, though yet to be decided, would likely exist to serve the city's University, colleges and high schools, Downtown and shopping centers, Conway Regional Medical Center, Faulkner County Library and areas with high density of elderly or low-income residents.

The cost of the system remains unclear and will be dependent on the scope of service. The council didn't make any decisions as to what this scope should encompass, but did reach something of a consensus that, if nothing else, such a system should exist in a 25- to 30-year plan for the city.

Whether one should be included in plans for the next few years will depend largely on a feasibility study to be prepared by LSC. Near-term plans could also depend on the success of Hendrix College's Village at Hendrix project, a multi-role commercial/residential development with an emphasis on density and "walkability" in the style of development known as "new urbanism."

These developments, Mayor Tab Townsell and Stoddard said, are well tailored for public transit systems due to their density and tendency to harbor a less automobile-dependent lifestyle. If such a system is not on the near horizon due to a lack of money or anticipated lack of users, it could be more developments in the mold of The Village that would put it there, according to Townsell.

With a "blank canvass" in the newly annexed region of the Lollie Bottoms, planning and development guidelines for residential and commercial growth there could be effected to encourage this type of development, Townsell said, adding that when the city runs out of room for southward expansion, east Conway would be the next opportune area.

Alderman Mark Vaught said at the meeting that if "new urbanism" is the path the city chooses, "we lay that foundation now."

"I know not everybody has warmed up to urban density now," Vaught said. "I'm not sure I have, but it's on the radar (and) Conway's already doing it."

Transit system plans remain in early stages at this point, Townsell said, and the city will arrange further opportunity for public input as the proposal takes shape. LSC planners are accepting input by e-mail at KPKosman@LSCCS.com. Metroplan is paying 80 percent of Transportation Consultants Inc.'s $180,000 fee for their services, which will include development of a strategic transit system plan, feasibility study and recommended service plan.

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238.)