Pickering Report
I-49 Rendering
WAIA/MARAD Roundtable Event Brochure
A region’s economic vitality owes much to its commitment to transportation improvements. As such, WAPDD plays a crucial role providing facilities and extensive support for the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority (WAIA).
WAIA’s role is to plan and develop initiatives for transportation improvements that benefit the entire Western Arkansas region – especially those that better support the movement of goods and freight that are so important in driving the region’s economy. As part of that effort, WAIA coordinates efforts with units of government at all levels, and takes a leading role in the pursuit of public and private investments to achieve the transportation improvements that can help move Western Arkansas forward.
In addition to WAPDD – which provides operating space for WAIA – other development partners include the Van Buren and Fort Smith chambers of commerce, the Fort Chaffee Public Trust, the Northwest Arkansas Council, the Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission – in addition to local government and private sector leadership.
Current board members, listed by the jurisdictions they represent, include:
City of Fort Smith
Carl Geffken, City Administrator
Steve Vicary, ABF Freight
Daniel Mann, Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority
City of Van Buren
Joe Hurst, Mayor
Keith Hefner
Jay White, Pepper Source, Inc.
Sebastian County
Steve Hotz, County Judge
Rodney Shepard, Arvest
Chris Moody, ABB
Crawford County
Chris Keith, County Judge
Doug Bowen – Compass Cold Storage
Fred Williams