Download: RSS | Email Alerts | Text Alerts | Mobile
 

Highway tax would support widening roads


Story Comments Share
Reported by: Dustin Barnes
Tags:
Updated: 10/25/2012 7:25 pm Published: 10/25/2012 5:02 pm

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- If voters pass the highway tax, the stretch of I-30 connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock could see major improvements, including the widening of the Arkansas River bridge.

"Little Rock is a growing city, and Arkansas is a growing state.  Because of that we need to have the infrastructure for our city," said Agather McKeel.

It's one of seventeen roads on the list that would widen two lanes to four, four lanes to six, or complete what's already been started.

"These are major projects. These are expensive projects, and these projects are of regional significance," Randy Ort, spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said.

The state highway department won't announce if it is for or against the tax, but spokesman Randy Ort said the half-cent sales tax could make a difference in our traveling experience.

The money would go strictly to this project.

"This proposal is not the long-term solution to our problem but it would be a very good shot in the arm from the highway perspective, helping us address the highway needs and freeing up money for other projects," Ort said.

But it is a tax, which means more money coming out of our pockets.  Drivers like Agather McKeel say coughing up the cash is a worthy investment.

"Taxes are real. Nobody is building the roads for free. They can not be maintained for free so we have to do all we can do to have a responsible and viable community," McKeel said.

Click here to see a list of the roads that would be widened if the tax passes.

Story Comments Share
3 Comment(s)
Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Breaking News and Weather to Plan Your Day for Little Rock and Central Arkansas

guzzler - 10/26/2012 8:58 AM
1 Vote
Watch anything the almighty MORON Randy Ort says, he has defended the mis-management of the Ark. Highway Dept. for years, especially when their ignorance and stupidity has caused deaths on the highways

ArkansasYankee - 10/25/2012 9:31 PM
0 Votes
Aren't we taxed enough? Don't we have taxes already in place for our roads? Like the taxes we pay at the pump for one! Make W-M, JB Hunt, et al pay for in state tags instead of OK tags; that would help the state pay for the damage they do to our roads. Surely there are other options than raising our already out of sight taxes. Greedy politicians; get a rope!

CptKirksnipple - 10/25/2012 8:53 PM
1 Vote
Tax!Tax!Tax! raise the tax! We need more money for the people THAT WORK FOR US! and the little piggymies in Paupa New Guinea!
The links below are paid advertisements. FOX16 is not responsible for their content.
Current Conditions
78°
High: 79° | Low: 57°
Mostly Cloudy
Inergize Digital This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.
Mobile advertising for this site is available on Local Ad Buy.