ARC’s Access Road Program links the Region’s communities, businesses, and residents to the Appalachian Development Highway System and other key parts of the Region’s transportation network. The program offers a flexible approach to meet local needs and provide a financing mechanism to support a variety of economic development opportunities throughout the Region.
Every year, ARC supports local access road projects which serve industrial and commercial areas, residential developments, recreational areas, and educational areas. Local access road funds may also be used for preliminary engineering, right-of-way and/or construction. As of 2021, ARC invested in over 1,040 miles of local access road projects.
Trends and Impacts of Local Access Roads
This report evaluates trends and impacts of investments in ARC’s Local Access Road Program using available project data and conducted surveys covering 135 projects completed from 2001 through 2020. Those projects supported the creation of 17,189 jobs and leveraged $862 million of private investments through the facilities and economic development centers accessed by users of the newly constructed or improved local access roads.
Project Guidelines
These guidelines provide Local Access Road applicants with specific guidance about project guidelines, eligibility, approval processes, and submission requirements.