Mobility Plan 2050 Survey Available

Our second round of public engagement for Mobility Plan 2050 kicked off last week with two community open houses and one virtual learning session.

We encourage community feedback throughout the update, as it guides the decisions we make and the transportation projects that are prioritized. Each person in our region has unique needs and interacts with transportation differently, and we want to know the transportation issues you face. Even if you weren’t able to attend the meetings, you still have an opportunity to provide input.

Please take this short survey to voice your thoughts and ideas for our long-range transportation plan. The survey will be open through November 12, 2024. For more information and to stay up to date with the project, visit knoxmobility.org.

Mobility Plan Fall Meetings

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is a federally required organization that is responsible for the transportation planning process in Knox County and parts of Anderson, Blount, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties.

We recently began an update to our long-range transportation plan, Mobility Plan 2050, which will examine the current state of transportation in and around the Knoxville region and make recommendations for future investments. Regional transportation planning involves roads, public transportation, sidewalks and bicycle paths, and freight movement (rail, water, or air), all of which will be considered for update under Mobility Plan 2050.

Information about the project can be found at knoxmobility.org, which will host all information regarding the plan. Those interested in learning more and staying up-to-date on the project are encouraged to visit the website and check back regularly for more opportunities to provide input.

The project website also includes information about upcoming community meetings related to the plan. These include two in-person open house events and a virtual option:
• Monday, October 21 – 4-7:00 p.m.
John T. O’Connor Senior Center
611 Winona St.
Knoxville, TN 37917
• Tuesday, October 22 – 12-1:00 p.m.
Visit knoxmobility.org/meetings for a link
• Wednesday, October 23 – 4-7:00 p.m.
Blount County Public Library
508 N Cusick St.
Maryville, TN 37804

For more information, contact Doug Burton at doug.burton@knoxplanning.org or 865-215-3824.

Transit Program of Projects Public Hearing Scheduled

The Executive Board of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will hold a Public Hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the purpose of considering public comment both written and
oral on the proposed Program of Projects (POP) funded by Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula, Section 5339 Bus & Bus Facilities, and Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities grant funds.

The City of Knoxville is the designated recipient of the Section 5307 & 5339 funds. Knoxville Knox County Planning is the designated recipient of the Section 5310 funds. The times established for public review and for allowing public comment on the POP follow the TPO’s Transportation Improvement Program public involvement process. If there are no changes, the POP will be considered final.

The proposed POP and additional information can be viewed at www.knoxtpo.org. Interested persons, agencies, and private transportation providers are encouraged to participate. To be mailed or faxed a copy of the POP or to provide comments contact Doug Burton at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37902 or at (865) 215-3824 or at doug.burton@knoxtpo.org. Comments must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 to be read during the meeting.


TPO Receives Federal Certification

The Knoxville Regional TPO successfully completed the federal certification review of the metropolitan transportation planning and programming process.

Every four years, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) are required to jointly review and evaluate the planning process of the TPO. This ensures that our plans meet federal regulations.

As part of the certification process, the TPO submitted a list of major accomplishments since 2020. Some of the highlights from the past four years include the adoption of:

  • Mobility Plan 2045
  • Public Outreach Plan
  • Regional Roadway Safety Action Plan
  • Transportation Improvement Program

The following studies were also completed by the TPO and regional transit providers:

  • KAT Re-Imagined Study
  • Transit Coordination Study
  • Regional Transit Study

These accomplishments, along with participation and input from TDOT, TPO staff, TPO Technical Committee and Executive Board members, and the public, were considered in the review and evaluation process.

The FHWA and the FTA found that the planning process carried out in the Knoxville regional area meets federal requirements and reported no corrective actions.

Beyond meeting the federal requirements, the TPO exceeded expectations and received commendations in these areas:

  • Organizational structure — The TPO maintained a high level of performance.
  • Performance based planning and programming — This specifically acknowledges the Regional Pavement Management System.
  • Transportation Improvement program development and management — This recognition is in regard to the TPO’s biannual project review meetings that help reduce project delivery delays.

The final report includes recommendations for consideration in our work program, most of which will be covered by Mobility Plan 2050:

  • Collaborate with TDOT and local planning partners to develop projects for TDOT’s 10-year plan,
  • Implement a formal review of the transit planning agreement with the regional transit partners to ensure consistency in plans and programs,
  • Add a performance measure dashboard to the website so the public can better understand regional transportation data and system performance targets,
  • Align freight development plans in Mobility Plan 2050 with TDOT’s Statewide Multimodal Freight Plan, and
  • Continue to develop plans that incorporate safety and equity for vulnerable road users.

This certification will remain in effect until 2028, when the review and evaluation will be repeated.