Members of the Fayetteville Transportation Committee meet in September. | Staff photo.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – At the Fayetteville Transportation Committee meeting Sept. 30
officials including Monique Jones, Sarah Moore and Kitt Williams reviewed several
proposals aimed at improving mobility and road safety. During the session, members
presented maps, plans and technical guidelines.
One topic of discussion was a planned road connection that would cross Combs Park, a
natural area with steep hills that make construction difficult. According to officials, the
land involved has changed ownership, and the new owners have no plans for development.
This led the committee to vote in favor of removing the proposed connection from the city’s
Master Street Plan.
“With the changes in property ownership and the terrain’s topography, maintaining this
connection is no longer feasible,” said Mr. Ker, who presented the proposal to the
committee for approval.
Instead of building a new street, the city is now considering a pedestrian and bicycle
bridge, an alternative that could benefit the community by allowing access for emergency
vehicles, such as ambulances and police cars, during critical situations.
Another key point discussed was the update to the city’s e-scooter ordinance. In 2025, the
city saw an increase in pedestrian crosswalk incidents involving scooters, with at least four
reported accidents, compared to previous years. The committee approved an amendment
aligning scooter regulations with those of bicycles, aiming to promote safer use and
reduce risks.
“It’s not enough to change the law; we need communication campaigns so that both
drivers and scooter or bicycle users understand their role in road safety,” explained Mr. Ker
The committee proposed installing educational signage and more visible crosswalks to
help pedestrians and drivers better understand shared road spaces.
Finally, the committee addressed the renovation of Salem Road, a project designed to
improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. According to data shared at the meeting, the
city has allocated an initial budget of $100,000 for design work, which is supported by
$650,000 in federal funds for construction. The plan includes protected bike lanes,
improved pedestrian crossings, repainted lanes and narrower roadways to help slow
down traffic.
As part of broader pedestrian improvements, the proposed pedestrian and bicycle bridge
could be built using old railroad foundations, which would help reduce construction costs and completion time. These actions are part of the city’s Vision Zero program, which aims
to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.