Look Familiar?

These are photos of your highways, roads, streets and bridges. As you view them, think about your street, the country roads and bridges in your county and the state highways you travel on when traversing The Natural State. Do you think we can do better? Let us know what you think and what you would do by completing our online survey.

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Final Report & Recommendations

The Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance has issued its final report. Senator John Paul Capps of Searcy, chairman of the committee, stated in the report’s introduction, "I believe the recommendations contained in this Final Report represent what is best for the State of Arkansas in terms of being able to provide funding for the quality transportation system that our citizens deserve and our economy needs."

Moving Arkansas Forward

Welcome! If you're viewing this site, we hope you're interested in moving Arkansas forward by improving the funding of our state highways, county roads and city streets. And you're probably interested in the safety of thousands of bridges throughout the state. If so, you're in the right place.

The purpose of BlueRibbonHighways.com is to inform Arkansans about our state's public roads. And to bring you up to date on the current funding for maintenance and construction. We also want you to know where the money comes from and where the money goes, as well as the revenue gap between state revenues that are growing and revenues that aren't. Moving Arkansas forward means knowing the future needs for highways, roads, streets and bridges. Plus, we want to know what you would do to modernize our roads and the system that maintains what we have and builds what we need.

Spend a little time on this site, and Contact Us for more information. Plus, join the Blue Ribbon Network today for the latest news about our state's transportation infrastructure, and to learn how you can help move Arkansas forward.

By The Numbers

Here is an easy-to-understand explanation on how Arkansas's state highways are maintained, and how highways, county roads and city streets are built and repaired. For more detailed information, see the Blue Ribbon Fact Sheet.

Adding Up the Miles

  • There is a total of nearly 100,000 miles of public roadways in our state, ranking Arkansas 17th in the nation.
  • Our small population ranks Arkansas 32nd in U.S., yet we have the country's 12th largest state highway system.
  • The state highway system makes up 16% of the total miles of public roadways in Arkansas, but carries 76% of the traffic.
  • County roads make up 69% of our total public roadways. Spread over 75 counties, county roads support 9% of the load.
  • City-maintained streets account for 15% of the state's total, carrying 15% of the traffic.

Saving Money but Losing Funds

  • Arkansas's roadways are supported with user fees – car and truck registrations, permits, title fees and license fees, as well as gas and diesel (motor fuel) taxes. User fees and motor fuel taxes are based on consumption, meaning you only pay for what you use. If consumption goes up, our road system gets more money. If consumption goes down, the system loses money.
  • Motor fuel taxes are the primary source of funding, making up nearly 75% of all receipts used for Arkansas's roadways. Your state, city and county road system receives no funding from income taxes, sales taxes or property taxes.
  • Additional funds are received from the state severance tax on natural gas. However, the revenue from natural gas severance taxes has proved to be inconsistent and unstable due to ever-changing prices of the natural resource. In fact, projected revenue from severance taxes is now less than half of what it was originally projected to bring in.
  • As Arkansans purposely save money through conservation, fuel efficiency from better gas mileage, and new technology such as hybrids, the money dedicated to maintenance and construction goes down, while upkeep and the need to build bette and safer highways, roads, streets and bridges, continues to increase.

Who Gets What

  • What funding our system receives is divided among the state, counties and cities.
  • Every $1 generated from motor fuel taxes, and from car and truck registrations, permits, title fees and license fees, is split using a simple formula of 70¢ to the state, 15¢ to counties, and 15¢ to cities.
  • This 70/15/15 formula has been in place in Arkansas since 1965.
  • Each of Arkansas's 75 counties have a road and bridge program, while cities and towns strive to keep municipal streets and bridges in good repair.
  • There are federal highway funds available to every state in the nation. However, federal funds have to be matched by state funds. The fewer state funds available for matching, the fewer federal funds received. Plus, federal funds are for construction only, not for general maintenance and operation.

Good News and Bad News

  • The good news in Arkansas is that General Revenues have steadily increased on average since 1977.
  • The bad news is, state highway revenues have stayed relatively stagnant when measured by real buying power.
  • Any increase in revenue from motor fuel taxes has been due to tax increases, rather than real growth in Arkansan's use of gas and diesel.
  • Flat revenues and increased costs make Arkansas highways a net loser.

A Million Dollars Ain't What it Used to Be

Just as with groceries, a dollar doesn't buy what it used to. Inflation has steadily eaten away at the highway dollar's buying power. Here are some examples:

  • $10 million overlay (paving) program
    • 400 miles in 1977
    • 167 miles in 1991
    • 47 miles in 2008
  • $100 million for widening
    • 143 miles in 1977
    • 37 miles in 1991
    • 13 miles in 2008
  • $25 million bridge program
    • 137 bridges in 1977
    • 78 bridges in 1991
    • 25 bridges in 2008

The Big Question

  • The question facing a modernized Arkansas road program is: Can we meet 2020 needs with a 1921 funding system?
  • Only the people of Arkansas can answer that question. And only the people of Arkansas can determine whether or not Arkansas moves forward, either through their support of legislation, or with their votes at the polls.
  • Let the Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance hear from you. Take the on-line poll, and attend the regional meetings.

Go Back Up to the Top

How Can I Help?

Let your voice be heard!

Complete our online survey and share your opinion about highway funding. Plus, you can join the Blue Ribbon Network to receive poll results and remain up to date on the latest information about the Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance. You will also receive updates on recommendations the committee develops based on research, expert testimony and your comments and opinions.

Click Here to begin!

More About Us...

The Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance was established by Act 374 of 2009. It states the committee shall, "...actively involve the public as full and valued partners in determining adequate financing of the present and future needs of state highways,county roads, and city streets within the state."