The Northwest Arkansas region, a world-class destination for recreational biking, is also deeply invested in building safer transportation infrastructure for all users, particularly those biking, walking, and using public transit. With a unique mix of public and private investment, the region is one of the most exciting places for active transportation planning and engineering in the United States right now.
After years of working with forward-thinking communities across Northwest Arkansas, we are thrilled to open the doors to a Toole Design office in Bentonville. We sat down with Nathan Boone, our Bentonville Office Director, to hear his take on the region, our local team, and what’s next.
Where is the new office located?
We’re in the Greenway Building right next to the Razorback Greenway, a 46-mile shared use path that stretches from near the Missouri border down to Fayetteville. We’re steps away from The Momentary, a contemporary arts space that’s a hub for visual and performing arts, with plenty of coffee shops and restaurants nearby.
One of the great things about this space is that it gives us room to grow — and we are a rapidly growing team!
tell us more about the team.
Currently, the incredible Northwest Arkansas team includes JP Shaffer, Becky Byford, Bea Becerra, and of course me.
Our team brings so many types of diversity to the work. For starters, each of us lives in a different city in the region. I’m proud of how involved the team is in our local communities. We volunteer with a bike club at the middle school just down the road, teaching students bicycling skills, and several of us are involved in local advocacy groups.
What are some projects Toole Design has already worked on in Northwest Arkansas?
Even though the physical Toole Design office is new, we already have a strong presence in the region. At the state level, we’ve helped shape active transportation with the Arkansas Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Regionally, we’ve supported efforts like the Northwest Arkansas Safety Action Plan and ongoing Complete Streets Design Guide. And we’ve partnered with cities on other notable efforts, including Bentonville’s on-street bikeways, final design for a Bentonville sidewalk project, Fayetteville’s Safe Routes to School program, as well as grant support that helped Fayetteville secure $25 million in SS4A funds.
Beyond Arkansas, our team also supports projects across the Midwest and the South.
How Did You Get Your Start in Transportation Planning?
As an undergraduate at Texas A&M, I took a few transportation courses and was impressed by the curriculum. As I moved forward in my career, I realized there was so much more to transportation than what a lot of people in the field were doing. I was always looking for different, more holistic ways to solve problems. I gravitate toward out-of-the-box solutions and the collaborative side of engineering, thinking about what makes sense for more people. That’s what led me to active transportation and safety.
Before coming to Toole Design and to Northwest Arkansas, I lived all over the country and worked in lots of different fields, including commuter and freight rail design, environmental engineering, and even wind and solar projects. It was all interesting work, but I missed transportation and the chance to make an impact in people’s daily lives.
What’s your favorite part of Working at Toole Design?
The variety. Every day is different, with new projects, different people, and fresh challenges. One of the things I love is hearing about other projects throughout the company and being able to collaborate on solutions, particularly solutions I can then implement myself. The level of expertise of the entire Toole Design team is unparalleled. A single question to the team can turn into multiple experts chiming in, sharing their own expertise and insights. It keeps the juices flowing and keeps things interesting.
When I joined Toole Design, I realized how much I didn’t know. The firm has a culture of encouraging clients to always do better — not just repeat the same designs, but challenge the status quo and push for systemic change. That’s exactly the kind of work I wanted to be part of.
One of the things I love is hearing about other projects throughout the company and being able to collaborate on solutions.
What’s your favorite way to get around?
I have an 8.5-mile commute, and all but one mile is on a shared use path. Most days, I take my electric scooter but I also love riding my mountain bike. I can take a natural-surface singletrack trail from my front door almost directly to the office.
What’s next for the northwest Arkansas Region?
Northwest Arkansas is carving out a unique model for funding active transportation, with private philanthropic investment helping to catapult a number of infrastructure projects. With that foundation in place, we’re excited to see cities and community members get more involved, to really own and celebrate these developments and keep making their streets and public spaces safer, more comfortable, and more connected. The Toole Design team in Bentonville is proud to help shape that vision.
