NWAOnline’s Legislative Coverage

State will file Bella Vista bypass application

Besides the $350 million in federal stimulus money that’s going to states, there’s another $1.5 billion in the package that states can apply for as grants for major highway projects. The state Highway Commission decided today that they will make the Bella Vista bypass the only project it will apply for under this grant program. Also, [...]

Bypass highway meeting set

The state Highway Commission will meet on March 13 at 10 a.m. to consider the Bella Vista bypass. This special meeting is at the request of new commissioner Dick Trammel. On a related note, Missouri Department of Transportation spokeswoman Becky Baltz confirmed Friday that “we can’t wait forever” on Arkansas to commit to starting work on [...]

Trammel right out of the gate

New state highway commissioner Dick Trammel of Rogers was less than an hour into his first commission meeting when he brought up the “urgent” need to discuss a project that stands to lose $80 million. He obviously referred to the Bella Vista bypass, where Missouri is considering dropping its $80 million commitment and spending it [...]

Where there’s a will …

Talked briefly with Rep. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville, about highway money in the stimulus package. He thinks there’s a way to leverage some of that money enough to get a major project done. Will talk to him later about that in detail.