SPRINGDALE — Area transportation officials took another stab Wednesday at finding federal dollars to build the Bella Vista bypass.

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority agreed to request $135 million in next year’s federal budget to help pay for the $268 million, 15 mile toll road project in Arkansas.

The state tried to get $145 million in federal stimulus money, but was given only $10 million. The stimulus award included an offer for a loan of up to $100 million more from the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. Project advocates had already built such a loan into the project financing, and can’t afford to pay back a larger loan, said Dick Trammel, highway commissioner for Northwest Arkansas.

“We’re going to need federal dollars to get this done, no question,” Trammel said. “If we keep asking, we’re keeping the idea alive.”

The money would come as an earmark inthe federal budget, and getting $135 million is extremely unlikely, said Mike Malone of the mobility authority.

“We got a total of $1.9 million last year, and even $3 million or $4 million is really high in terms of expectations. This isn’t all that big a pot of money when so many things are looking for funding,” Malone said. “I don’t want to sneeze at that amount, but it’s not enough.”

Any additional money will help, even if it’s not the major chunk area leaders had hoped to see from the stimulus, said Dave Bisbee, outgoing chairman of the mobility authority and Benton County judge.

“If we can keep chipping away at it, we’ll get it done eventually,” he said. “Whether I’m still alive by that time, who knows.”

The mobility authority won’t request federal appropriations for any other projects next year.

A separate request in the federal six-year highway spending bill is pending. That legislation hasn’t been written yet. The authority is seeking $150 million in the highway spending bill: $50 million each for the Bella Vista bypass, the U.S. 412bypass around Springdale and improvements to Interstate 540.

Continued pursuit of federal money is also important to convince Missouri officials the project is moving forward, Trammel said. Missouri has set aside enough state highway money to cover the cost of building the five miles of the bypass on that side of the state line. Missouri is not planning tolls on the bypass north of the state line.

“If we can show we’re trying and making progress, it will help convince them not to take that money away and spend it somewhere else,” Trammel said.

The total project cost estimate, including Missouri’s portion, is $358 million. Federal dollars, state highway money and toll revenue are all part of the proposed financing package for the bypass.

Local and state officials are still trying to determine if the entire $10 million stimulus grant will come to Arkansas, or will be split somehow between Arkansas and Missouri, Malone said. They’re also exploring what parts of the project can legally be paid for using that money.

Area, Pages 8 on 03/03/2010