Survey says!

The results for a survey, conducted by the Alexander Planning Commission to help write the new Master Development Plan, are in. While there is a variety of opinions on various topics, the main focus seems to be on two issues; the streets need a variety of improvements, and Highway 111 has problems.

The goal of the survey was to determine residents’ views as to how the city should develop and what improvements are needed. The answers are part of the process to write a new Master Development Plan that is expected to guide city leaders through Alexander’s next period of growth, which has already begun. The current plan was written in 1982.

The survey report organized the responses into various categories. The first category is “Development Priorities.”

Question-1: “What would you do first to improve Alexander?” gave “Attract businesses” top priority at 19%. “Maintain streets” and “Increase code enforcement” tied at 16%; followed by “More activity/entertainment options” at 9%. “Revitalize downtown,” “Policing/crime prevention” and “Increase physical activity” tied at 8%. “Attract new residents” and “Improve drainage” tied at 4% followed by “Increase housing options” 2% and “Other” 6%.

While the first ten answers were choices provided by the survey, the category “Other” allowed for written additional options. They are “Animal control (2), Get to know people from the City, Basketball courts, Mandatory trash service,” and “Realign & widen Hwy. 111.”

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck gave a brief report on the survey results at the city council’s October 18 meeting. He encouraged everyone to read the report to get into the finer details.

Huck said council members may notice that many of the responses fall into one of two categories. Either, “We’re already doing that,” or “Highway 111 has problems.”

Under, “We’re already doing that,” Huck noted the comments were mostly about paving streets and cleaning ditches. Beginning in 2017 Alexander has been taking advantage of a state grant program used to pave city streets. Also, the city has been buying equipment that’s being used to clean ditches and improve flood areas such as Brookwood Road. Huck noted it’s possible the residents requesting paved streets live on streets that haven’t been part of the repaving program yet.

As for Highway 111, Huck said survey comments covered ideas such as a center left-turn lane, a bridge across the railroad tracks, sidewalks, and less curves. Huck told council members when Metroplan officials gave their report on the survey to the planning commission, they were told Metroplan can work with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to conduct a study of Highway 111 to determine it’s needs and what improvements can be made.

Question-2: “How would you like to see Alexander grow and develop in the future?”

At 20% the top answer was “More recreational facilities” followed by “Encourage development in city center” 19%, “More parks/trails/open space” 18%, “Encourage walkable, mixed-use areas” 14%, “Encourage neighborhood-scale commercial” 12%, “Continue current development patterns” 6%, “Make more land available for industry” 5%, and “Integrate small-scale apartments” 3%.

Again, these were answers provided by the survey. In the category of “Other” 3% of the respondents wrote, “Clean up & enforce city codes, Remove HDC (Human Development Center) & build apartments,” and “Sidewalks on Hwy. 111.”

Question-3: “Which housing types do you prefer for Alexander?”

Of the three answers to choose from the number one answer at 43% is, “A variety of housing types to accommodate different housing preferences (such as senior housing, patio homes, duplexes, town homes).” Number two is, “Housing consisting predominately of single-family subdivisions” at 31% and “Continue current development patterns” at 24%. In the category of “Other” the responses were, “newer mobile homes and senior apartments with pool & gym.”

Question-4: “Which parks and recreation amenities does Alexander need the most?”

The top answer at 16% is, “Paved multi-use trails.” Coming in at 15%, “Neighborhood parks/playgrounds” followed by “Splash pad” at 11%, “Fishing pond” and “Outdoor pool” both at 10%, “Natural areas/hiking trails” and “Parks complexes/playing fields” both at 8%, “Indoor event space” and “Indoor recreation facilities” at 7%, and “Indoor pool” at 4%. Under the category of “Other” answers given are, “Signage to draw people into Alexander,” “Basketball courts,” and “City needs resources for large projects.”

The remaining eight questions fall into the category of “Transportation.” They cover areas such as how to improve streets and intersections to modes of transportation other than the automobile.

Not numbered in the report, respondents were asked to sort nine listed “Transportation Priorities” from most important to least important. The results were;

1: ”Build complete streets that are compatible with walking, biking, and transit;”

2: “Repair existing roads;”

3: “Build a railroad overpass;”

4: “Widen roads to increase capacity for motorists;”

5: “Build more pedestrian and bicycle facilities;”

6: “Improve the road network to provide alternate routes;”

7: “Improve construction standards for new roads;”

8: “Reduce traffic congestion;” and

9: “Provide public transportation.”

Question-5 “Which Alexander roadways are in most need of improvement?”

This was an open-ended question asking for original commentary. Of course the number one answer was Highway 111 at 31%. Alexander Rd. came in second at 17% followed by Brookwood Rd. and “Ranchette” (doesn’t say which one) both at 6%, and “Azalea” at 4%. The remaining streets all registered at 2%; Main St., Charles, 4^th, Don Parker, Hilltop, Hilldale, Cornerstone, Midland, Northlake, Holly, Mountain Dr., Reynolds, I-30, Interstate ramps on & off frontage roads, St. Joseph's Glen, Lindsey, and “All streets.”

Hilldale, Midland, Northlake, and Reynolds are not in the City of Alexander. Except for Autumn Cove and the end of Magnolia Glen Dr. near Autumn Cove, the remaining streets in St. Joseph's Glen are the responsibility of the home owners association, not the city.

Question-6 was a two-part question: “Which roadway intersections in Alexander need safety improvements?” and “What types of improvements would you recommend?”

Intersections listed were, “Don Parker & Brookwood (needs 3-way stop or stop sign on Don Parker w/ through street on Brookwood)” 29%; “Highway 111 & Alexander Rd.” 21%; “Highway 111” 11%; “W. Azalea & S. Alexander” 11%; “Meadow's Edge subdivision (needs stop signs inside subdivision; poor visibility when entering/exiting onto Hwy 111)” 11%; “Railroad crossing downtown (needs overpass)” 7%; “All roads” 7%; “Railroad crossing at Brookwood & Shobe” 4%; and “Bryant Parkway” 4%.

Because Meadow’s Edge is still considered under development street signs are the responsibility of the developer. A request to take over responsibility of the streets and subdivision has not been submitted to the city. Bryant Parkway is not in Alexander.

Questions seven and eight were “Yes” or “No” questions.

Question-7: “Is your day-to-day travel significantly delayed by train traffic at the railroad crossing?”

Yes 70%, No 30%.

Question-8: “Should the City emphasize making Alexander more walkable by encouraging pedestrian-friendly development throughout the City?”

Yes 86%, No 14%.

Question-9: “Which roads need sidewalks the most?”

Once again Highway 111 comes in on top at 42% followed by Alexander Rd. 20%, Azalea 11%, All 7%, Meadow's Edge subdivision 7%, Downtown 4%, None 4%, Brookside 2%, and Ranchette 2%. Brookside is not in Alexander.

Question-10: “Are there destinations that you would like to be able to walk or bike to, but choose not to do so because of safety concerns?”

Apparently, the most popular destination within the city is Alexander City Park at 30% followed by Dollar General 22%, Post office 17%, No/not now/not applicable 13%, Hess 4%, Along Highway 111 4%, Alcoa 40 Park 4%, and Mills Park 4%. Alcoa 40 Park and Mills Park are in Bryant.

Additional comments included, “All of Alexander has safety concerns, Roads are too curvy and narrow to walk along, Need sidewalks on narrow streets, You can't walk or bike any where safely, There is no safe place to walk in South Alexander, I would like to walk (to) the park from my house but cars and trucks like to go by fast on the road and not very safe, Hwy 111 to Dollar General needs bicycle and pedestrian facilities, No commercial or recreational sites to walk to, Loose dogs attack people when walking, I choose not to walk because of stray dogs, Loose animals are an issue,” and “A lot of deer.”

Question-11: “What other suggestions do you have for improving transportation in Alexander?”

The written responses were organized into five categories. The answers have not been edited and are as written.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• “Enforce traffic laws - speed, tailgating, automobiles on side of streets (nonoperational, obstructing roadway).”

• “Enforce stop signs and speed limits.”

• “Some sort of speed trap through the neighborhoods.”

• “More stop signs, less yield signs.”

• “Improve the I-30 access so we don't have to turn left off Alexander Road to go east on the service road and I-30.”

RAILROAD

• “Bridges over railroad tracks.”

• “Fix the train issues like stopping on tracks for a long period of time.”

• “2 overpasses over the train tracks at S. Alexander Road and Brookwood Rd.”

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

• “Have buses come along.”

• “There is no city transportation. We need to start some.”

HIGHWAY 111

• “Widen Hwy. 111.”

• “Straighten out some of that big S curve on 111.”

• “Straighten the curves on Hwy 111 between the church and Meadow View subdivision.”

• “Realign Alexander Rd. to straighten out the S curves and improve major intersections to accommodate turning of larger commercial vehicles. Add shoulders and/or a center turn lane down Alexander Road.”

• “Figure out a way to make Hwy. 111 not so curvy and dangerous. It has high traffic, large drops into ditches, and can be unsafe with semis and construction trucks constantly traveling along it.”

OTHER

• “Connection for bike trails to Bryant/LR trail system is recommended. Not a full network of trails.”

• “Roundabout at the intersection of Brookwood/Don Parker instead of 2 yield signs.”

• “Too much Shannon Hills traffic coming through Alexander.”

• “Need more deer signs.”

According to the report a total of 60 surveys were submitted; 55 online and five using the paper version. The highest percentages of respondents were in the adult population; middle to high income earners; White, Black, and Asian ethnicity; and female. A lesser percentage of the respondents were in the youth population, lower income ranges, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, and male.

Where the respondents live was also included in the report. Most of the respondents live either between downtown and South Alexander (38%) or in South Alexander (34%). Respondents living south of I-30 or outside Alexander, but have an Alexander address, came in at 9%. Those living either north of I-30 or in downtown were 4% of the respondents. The remaining 2% do not live in Alexander.

The next step is to have a public meeting with residents to discuss the survey and ways to achieve the various goals. That is expected to occur sometime in early 2022.