Make the Ask 2023!

I'm Richard Billingsley and I'm the founder and president of NWA GO. We are grassroots advocates for green mass transit here in Northwest Arkansas.

I'm raising funds to cover trips to advocate for mass transit. I will Make the Ask for money to build a world-class mass transportation system in NWA. This includes bus service, light rail, intercity passenger rail, and high-speed passenger rail that links NWA to Little Rock.

I will travel to Washington DC in late March to join another organization I belong to, the Rail Passengers Association. This is the Spring On the Hill and I will network with other national advocates there. Then on the third day of the conference, I will go to Capital Hill and meet with Arkansas Congressional Delegation staffers. In this effort, I will represent all of Arkansas.

During the Arkansas Legislature Interim Session, I will travel to Little Rock to Make the Ask for money from the highway fund to power up public transportation spending throughout our state.

I want to go to Miami Florida to ride the Brightline passenger train. Brightline is a private passenger rail service that offers many innovations in how they provide passenger service. My purpose is to investigate Brightline trains and stations and see if there is anything we can incorporate into Arkansas passenger rail service.

The money I raise goes to my conference fees, travel, hotel, food, transit fees, and train tickets.

NWA GO has a YouTube channel where I will post progress on these goals. I will make daily reports in short easy to watch videos. Many people in Arkansas don't have experience riding intercity trains, high-speed rail, or light rails. The videos will break the ice and start to get our citizens interested in a more sustainable, economical way to travel.