Friends,

Little Rock is a growing, thriving city, and with that growth comes the necessity to ensure we consider our transportation and infrastructure needs for the decades to come. Our Planning Department is responsible for establishing our long-range, comprehensive approach to development and transportation, and it is working this year on an update of the Little Rock Master Street Plan. 

This wide-ranging overhaul of the Master Street Plan is the first since the late 1980s, and it will start with a renaming of the document. We recognize that personal vehicles on city streets aren't the only way our residents and visitors get around Little Rock, so the plan we develop this year will be known as the Master Transportation Plan. We will consider public transit, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and other methods of transportation during this update.

The Master Transportation Plan shows the general location of major roadways and the design standards for those roads within the City of Little Rock. The plan is designed to ensure we have a transportation system that effectively moves people and goods within the City. It is also used as a guideline for development both currently and in the future.

The primary intent of the effort this year is to review and update the document and to bring components into the plan in order to make sure it addresses all modes of transportation. We anticipate setting design standards that consider all forms of transportation, like bicycles, motorcycles, scooters and pedestrian traffic.

A working group with the Little Rock Planning Commission is charged with the development of this document. However, we want input from all interested parties in order to be sure the update is the best interests of everyone in our community. We are asking for feedback from residents who may have concerns about our overall transportation plan and strategy within the City of Little Rock. 

We've set up a webpage to let the public know more about transportation planning and where we are in the process as we update our Master Transportation Plan. 

Feel free to share comments, suggestions and feedback.  It is our hope that the new document replacing the Master Street Plan will provide a good ‘blueprint’ for the city, developers and our residents, and that we continue our progress toward a transportation system that works well for all modes of transportation and for people of all ages.

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of Black Americans to the United States. From Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine to the West 9^th Street business district, Little Rock’s own history cannot be understood without knowing the struggles and achievements of its Black daughters and sons. Black history is our history.
 
This month I am pleased to join you in celebrating Black history. As community-based organizations and businesses highlight the achievements of Black artists, inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and public servants, I am encouraged to see plans for residents to gather in libraries, museums, and schools across our city to share in the rich legacy of Little Rock’s historically black communities and participate in dialogues about our past that will both inform our present and guide our future.
 
As a son of this city, I spend a lot of time thinking about how we invest in our future, striving each day to do right by our youth. To serve them effectively, we must also create opportunities to learn from them. This February my team is collaborating with the Little Rock School District on a student-led social media project. All month long, students will curate content related to Black History Month on our social media channels. I am excited to showcase the talents of LRSD students. I hope you’ll join me in following along on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks to Our Winter Weather Crews and Partners

Although the City of Little Rock facilities were closed during the ice last week, city employees remained hard at work to keep essential city services operating. 

Even before the winter weather arrived, City of Little Rock Public Works was on the go, preparing and treating our roads for the winter weather. Working in 12 hour shifts, the City operated both large and small trucks, spreading a salt and sand mixture throughout the city's main roads. Their work to ensure safe travel even garnered praise during a livestream from KATV's Todd Yakoubian. 

Thanks also go out to our emergency operations team, who help to coordinate the city's response, understand weather conditions in real time, and respond with effective and efficient service delivery. 

Finally, I want to salute city staff and The Van for operating and keeping the emergency shelter at Dunbar Community Center open until the threat of winter weather had passed. Making sure our residents experiencing homelessness have a place to go during weather emergencies is of utmost importance. 

The Week Ahead

-The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. at the Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here. 

-The Natural Environment Committee of the Sustainability Commission will meet virtually on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. For more information, visit the event page here. 

-The Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. 

-The Little Rock Planning Commission will meet Thursday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m. at the Centre at University Park. The Planning Commission makes zoning and land use recommendations to the City Board.