Changes Across the Arkansas Infrastructure World
Jared Wiley is quietly putting his mark on the department by making changes where needed. If you are paying attention, you will see the department quietly doing things it has never done before. During the January snowstorm that in many ways shut down the state for the better part of a week, ARDOT unleashed an aggressive communication strategy to help citizens deal with the frozen, snow-covered roads. It wasn’t just about using tons of salt and brine and hundreds of plows; it was about a digital and media communication strategy to tell snowbound Arkansas the latest on travel conditions.
It was another reminder that Wiley is never afraid to step out of the spotlight to show off the smart people managing the department at all levels. In the case of the storm, Communication Director Dave Parker had regional engineers across the state sending in videos of them talking very specifically about what was happening in their part of the state.
This hyperlocal communication strategy worked. When you have hundreds of employees working 12- hour shifts, and they all have iPhones in their pockets, why not tap into that network to more effectively tell the winter weather story? It’s all a very long way from paper news releases and tightly scripted department messaging. It’s a refreshing environment that reminds us the department trusts its young leaders on critical days.
It’s a long way from a day years ago when an angry governor was calling the department to ask why I-40 from Little Rock to Memphis had not been plowed during a major snow event.
It’s also clear right now that the culture at the department is to listen to ideas and concerns expressed by the companies and people who build, design, repair, and finance roads and bridges across the state. At our Good Roads Summer Policy Meeting in Hot Springs last July, a new Good Roads member asked me if I thought she could get some time at the meeting to talk to a specific senior leader at ARDOT.
They had a conversation over chicken wings in a restaurant at Oaklawn. A few days later, she called me to say, “We had a really productive conversation, do you think you can connect us for some followup questions I have?” I said absolutely, and she later expressed surprise at how promptly she heard back from this senior ARDOT leader, and how her suggestions were thoughtfully received.
This is a culture that has changed. In years and decades gone by, there were periods where the relationship between the department and contractors was strained and at times confrontational. But that doesn’t seem to be the case now.
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Speaking of change, we are working right now on a new Good Roads website. The goal is to better integrate magazine content into the website, make it easier for our members to pay for dues and sponsorships, and give more visibility to our members and sponsors.
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More change in Benton County, where the Quorum Court voted 10-4 recently to ban highway billboards on state highways designated as Scenic Corridors. The ordinance also applies to the planned 412 Springdale Bypass area and the new airport connector road.
County Judge Barry Moehring cited beautification as the main goal of the ordinance. Moehring points out that the road to and from the airport will be the place where many people get a first impression of Northwest Arkansas, and it’s important that the scenic beauty of the area be protected.
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The Good Roads Summer Policy Meeting will be held in Springdale this July. We think the meeting will be larger and more visible than anything we have done before. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Feel free to call me at 479-426-5931 if you would like to discuss how your company can be visible at a larger regional event featuring ARDOT leadership, community leaders, and highway commissioners.
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We are very excited to have new members joining the Good Roads effort to tell the infrastructure story. AFCO Steel is a major player in the national steel business and a great Arkansas company. AFCO creates a wide range of steel products and drives new jobs and economic growth in Arkansas. So proud to have them with us. We also want to welcome Olsson, who has also joined Good Roads. The company is one of the 75 largest engineering and design firms in the nation and provides services for infrastructure, land, water, energy, and technology projects. Great to have dynamic companies like AFCO and Olsson providing strategic input on how we support Arkansas infrastructure development.
Thanks for checking out our magazine this month. If you have thoughts on content or story ideas, please send us a note. In the meantime, put that phone down when you drive.
