Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission

What Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission does

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is a governmental Council of Governments and federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving 39 units of government across Benton, Madison, and Washington Counties in Arkansas and a portion of McDonald County in Missouri. Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the organization operates with a lean staff of approximately nine personnel and is responsible for conducting the federally mandated 3C (Comprehensive, Continuing, Cooperative) transportation planning process required for the region to qualify for federal transportation funds. NWARPC was designated as an MPO in 1983 and became a Transportation Management Area (TMA) in 2010 after the urbanized area exceeded 200,000 in population.

NWARPC's core product portfolio comprises regional planning deliverables rather than commercial software: the Forward 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (adopted February 2026), the four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Northwest Arkansas Travel Demand Model (updated in 2024-2025 with a 2022 base year and forecasts to 2050, developed with WSP Consultants), the Transit Alternatives Study (which selected Bus Rapid Transit as the regionally preferred alternative in February 2026), the NWA Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, the Congestion Management Process covering 826 directional miles, the TSMO Plan, the ITS Architecture, and the NWA Regional Complete Streets Design Guide. Underlying technology is primarily GIS-based spatial analysis, the regional Travel Demand Model, and performance-based planning frameworks aligned with MAP-21/FAST Act/IIJA federal requirements.

The organization is funded through federal transportation allocations and competitive grants, not commercial revenue. NWARPC administers suballocated federal funds including Surface Transportation Block Grant Program-Attributable (STBGP-A), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), and FTA Section 5307/5339 transit funds. Since 2010, it has awarded over $100 million in suballocated federal funding and secured $40 million in competitive U.S. DOT discretionary grants. Recent awards include $25 million for Highway 112 Projects (January 2025), $36.25 million as part of EPA's CPRG Implementation Grant to the Arkansas Tri-Region Coalition (July 2024), $16.6 million for FFY 2025 local projects, and $15.8 million for FFY 2027 projects. Distribution occurs via government-to-government channels through the RPC/Policy Committee and Technical Advisory Committee structure, with no commercial pricing.

Name

Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission

Legal name

Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission

Website

https://nwarpc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NWARPC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Northwest Arkansas, conducting mandated 3C transportation planning for 39 units of government across four counties and administering federal transportation funding. It produces regional plans, travel demand models, and safety/transit studies rather than commercial products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Transportation Planning

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Regional transportation planning
• Metropolitan planning organization
• Council of governments
• Federal funding administration
• Multimodal transportation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Springdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Transportation Funding Administration: NWARPC serves as the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, administering federally mandated 3C (Comprehensive, Continuing, Cooperative) transportation planning required for regions to qualify for federal transportation funds. The organization awards and obligates suballocated federal funding including Surface Transportation Block Grant Program – Attributable (STBGP-A), Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP).
2. Competitive Federal Discretionary Grants: NWARPC has been awarded $40 million in competitive U.S. DOT discretionary grant funding since 2010, including TIGER and BUILD grants for the Razorback Greenway and the Missouri-Arkansas Connector/Bella Vista Bypass.
3. Regional Transportation Project Funding: Awarded $15.8 million for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 transportation projects and $16.6 million for FFY 2026 local road, trail, sidewalk, and safety projects. The organization coordinates and distributes transportation funding to member jurisdictions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is a Council of Governments and the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Northwest Arkansas. It conducts the federally mandated 3C (Comprehensive, Continuing, Cooperative) transportation planning process across 39 member governments, develops long-range regional transportation plans, administers suballocated federal transportation funding (STBGP-A, TAP, CRP, FTA Section 5307/5339), and serves as a clearinghouse for socio-economic, environmental, housing, and Census data.

Product overview

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is a governmental organization serving as the Council of Governments and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region. Rather than a unified software product, NWARPC offers a portfolio of planning services, transportation plans, and regional programs. Core offerings include the Forward 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) as the long-range regional transportation blueprint, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) listing funded projects, the Northwest Arkansas Travel Demand Model for transportation forecasting, and the Transit Alternatives Study recommending Bus Rapid Transit. Supporting plans include the NWA Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, Congestion Management Process, TSMO Plan, and ITS Architecture Plan. Regional programs include the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program, the NWA Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Connect Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan, and the NWA Regional Complete Streets Design Guide. The organization also provides Interactive GIS Maps for regional data visualization and oversees the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) for transportation project implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forward 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan The federally required 25-year regional transportation plan that guides Northwest Arkansas across roads, transit, and active travel, setting vision, strategies, and investment priorities.
• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Federally required document listing all federally funded transportation and transportation-related projects to be undertaken within the transportation study area over a four-year period.
• Northwest Arkansas Travel Demand Model A comprehensive transportation forecasting model supporting data-driven decision-making for highway and transit infrastructure investments across three land-use growth scenarios.
• Transit Alternatives Study (TAS) Comprehensive transit study evaluating fixed rail, bus rapid transit, and light rail options for regional mobility needs, recommending Bus Rapid Transit.
• Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program Regional initiative to distribute at least 5,844 E-Bike vouchers across three Arkansas MSAs, offering General Resident Vouchers up to $700 and Income Qualified Resident Vouchers up to $1,200.
• NWA Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Comprehensive regional plan for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure development in Northwest Arkansas.
• Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan Strategic approach to optimize existing transportation infrastructure performance through multimodal and intermodal systems and services designed to preserve capacity and improve security, safety, and reliability.
• Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Architecture Plan Framework for implementing ITS projects that encourages interoperability and resource sharing among agencies, identifying applicable standards and allowing cohesive long-range planning.
• NWA Vision Zero Safety Action Plan (CSAP) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan outlining strategies to reduce and eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on the transportation system, funded through STBG and USDOT SS4A grants.
• Congestion Management Process (CMP) Systematic approach for managing and operating transportation facilities through demand reduction and operational management strategies, covering 826 directional miles of roadway.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $100 million in suballocated federal funding awarded and obligated since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Governors of Arkansas and MissouricoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983The MPO is designated by the Governors of Arkansas and Missouri to conduct the federally mandated 3C planning process necessary for transportation projects to qualify for federal transportation funds. This designation establishes NWARPC's authority and responsibility for regional transportation planning.
• Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARDOT is a key planning partner represented by Travis Brooks and Sunny Farmahan (Planning) and Jason Hughey (District 4). ARDOT coordinates with NWARPC on state transportation plans and federal funding administration.
• Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoDOT is a key planning partner represented by Frank Miller and Amanda Barch. MoDOT coordinates cross-state transportation planning with NWARPC, particularly for McDonald County portion of the MPO area.
• Ozark Regional Transit Authority (ORT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerORT is the primary public transit provider in Northwest Arkansas and receives FTA Section 5307 and 5339 funds through NWARPC as the designated FTA recipient. ORT operates fixed-route and paratransit services.
• University of Arkansas Razorback TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRazorback Transit provides campus and regional transit services and receives FTA funding through NWARPC. Represented by Gary Smith and Adam Waddell. NWARPC supports their Transit Asset Management Plan and bus stop enhancement initiatives.
• Beaver Water DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeaver Water District is a public agency partner represented by Lane Crider. As a water utility district, they participate in regional planning that intersects with transportation and environmental planning.
• Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerXNA is represented by Aaron Burkes and participates in regional transportation planning that includes airport access and ground transportation connectivity.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - Arkansas DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHWA is a non-voting transportation planning partner represented by Amy Heflin. FHWA oversees federal highway funding requirements and compliance with transportation planning regulations.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTA is a non-voting transportation planning partner represented by Ronisha Hodge. FTA provides federal transit funding through NWARPC as the designated recipient for the urbanized area.
• NWA Regional Mobility Authority (RMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NWA RMA was formed in 2008 through a cooperative agreement pursuant to Act 389 of 2007. RMA is a regional governmental agency authorized to build, operate, maintain, expand, or fund transportation projects. The RMA Board includes representatives from Benton County, Washington County, and 10 municipalities.
• WSP ConsultantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWSP consultants partnered with NWARPC to complete a comprehensive update to its Travel Demand Model in 2024-2025, updating the base year to 2022 and developing forecasts for 2030, 2040, and 2050.
• MetroplansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetroplan co-manages the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program with NWARPC to distribute at least 5,844 E-Bike vouchers across the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Fort Smith, and Little Rock metropolitan statistical areas.
• APTIMsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAPTIM serves as the program administrator for the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Voucher Program, handling application processing, eligibility verification, and program management. Contact: [email protected].

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): Largest U.S. MPO by population. Performs the same federal transportation planning function but at dramatically larger scale; useful upper-bound benchmark for what NWARPC's mandate could evolve into.
• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC): Large Southeast MPO performing identical 3C transportation planning and federal funding administration. Useful as a comparable for how a regional planning commission matures at scale.
• Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG): Phoenix-area MPO for one of the fastest-growing U.S. metros. Closest analog to NWARPC in growth profile and demand for multimodal/transit planning, though at materially larger scale.
• North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG): Large, well-resourced Texas regional planning organization. Comparable at the functional level as an MPO, but materially larger and more established; useful as a benchmark for capability expansion.
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC): Pacific Northwest regional planning council with analogous growth, transit planning, and federal funding roles. Larger and more mature but performs the same MPO function for a fast-growing multi-county region.

Direct peers

• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG): Fast-growing Rocky Mountain region MPO. Comparable because it serves a high-growth metro area with active federal funding administration and regional planning responsibilities similar to NWARPC.
• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC): Kansas City regional planning council serving a similar bi-state, multi-jurisdiction metro area. Performs the same MPO/council-of-governments functions and is a strong functional analog for a multi-county, cross-state planning commission.
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments: St. Louis regional MPO with comparable bi-state geography and federally-mandated transportation planning responsibilities. Highly relevant peer given NWA's cross-jurisdictional (AR/MO) operating footprint.
• Metroplan (Central Arkansas Planning and Development District): Little Rock-area MPO that co-manages the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program with NWARPC. Most directly comparable peer: fellow Arkansas MPO performing the same federally-mandated 3C planning function and administering federal transportation funds.

Emerging players

• Ozark Regional Transit Authority (ORT): Primary public transit operator in NWARPC's region and recipient of FTA Section 5307/5339 funds administered by NWARPC. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but tightly coupled to NWARPC's transit planning outputs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nwa.regionalplanning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwest-arkansas-regional-planning-commission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission