The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission was initially formed in response to the construction of Beaver Lake and then pending 71-Bypass as city and county officials in the 1960s were anticipating immediate growth and expansion for the Northwest Arkansas region.

The completion of Interstate 540, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, and improvements to Highway 412, have indeed generated unprecedented growth for the region. For the past 43 years, the Commission's work has been varied and extensive. In the beginning, NWARPC gathered data and conducted studies concerning all aspects of the region. After the completion of some 75 studies and several public hearings, the first "Regional Plan" was adopted in 1973. The Commission then concentrated on the pressing issues of water, sewer and solid waste. From these concerns came definitive studies with recommendations for solutions.

NWARPC contracted for the first regional airport study in 1968, and has worked with the Arkansas Highway Department and local governments on virtually every major roadway improvement including I 540. Today, the Commission's work involves ongoing planning, mapping, and technical assistance to local governments, as well as serving as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Northwest Arkansas.

The function of the MPO is to work with the governmental entities of the area and the State Highway Department to determine transportation needs and funding priorities through long range planning.  During the next decade the population of Northwest Arkansas is projected to increase by over 100,000 people.  This will call for a greater degree of coordination and cooperation in planning by the government entities of the area. Our transportation system will need to be able to handle the increased population of our area. Planning area boundaries will need to be coordinated among the cities and the 2010 Census information will change the map of political district boundaries.

You can contact us at:

Phone: (479) 751-7125
Fax: (479) 751-7150
TTY Service: For people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-disabled, please dial 1-800-285-1131 for a telecomunications relay service assistant.

Address: 1311 Clayton St, Springdale, AR, 72762

For directions to our office please click map below:

Location of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission office

Please select from the categories under About NWARPC for more information.

NONDISCRIMINATION AND SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT:

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission is a planning organization that serves local units of government in Benton, Madison and Washington Counties, Arkansas. 

This organization is also the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Since its formation in 1966, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission has been working toward making Northwest Arkansas a more desirable place to live and work. Act 26 of 1955 (which provided for the formation of NWARPC) states as its purpose, "... to make those studies and plans for the metropolitan area or region that will guide the unified development of the area, that will eliminate planning duplication and promote economy and efficiency in the coordinated development of the area and the general welfare and prosperity of its people."