River Cities Renaissance in Little Rock describes the explosion of commercial development from the Alltel Arena, Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock Restaurants, night clubs, Acxion, real estate development of lofts, and restoration. Keith Jones has the plan. While Jones, as head of the Central Arkansas Transit Authority, is undoubtedly the area s biggest bus booster, it s rail that he sees as a critical component for a vibrant downtown, as well as for answering future transportation needs of a growing Pulaski County and Central Arkansas. But according to Metroplan studies, most of the major roads and bridges in the greater Little Rock area are at or above capacity for vehicle volume. Taxpayers must pony up for additional miles of pavement, new bridges and acres of parking lots or pay for a train and catch it.
Street cars are already in the river cities picture.
The trolley route runs from a station at Sixth and Main streets the site of a repair shop and, some folks hope, a trolley museum in North Little Rock. The route includes a stop close to the Alltel Arena and across the Main Street Bridge and runs through a seven-square block downtown loop along Markham on the north, Commerce on the east, 2nd Street on the south and Spring on the west. That makes the trolley a fun choice for people going to and between major downtown hotels, the Old State House, State House Convention Center, Robinson Auditorium, the County Courthouse, several restaurants, the River Market, the proposed marina, the Museum of Discovery, the Main Library, Riverfront Park and Riverfest Amphitheater and, in time, the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. Jones dream for the future extends to the furthest reaches of Central Arkansas. He envisions trains whisking commuters back and forth between downtown and other cities along several well-established Central Arkansas transportation corridors often on existing track with no current passenger applications.