Mobility Plan 2045 was adopted in April, but we’re still talking about it! Staff created an interactive story map that details what’s in it and what it means for all of us living in the region. If you want a good condensed version of the plan and the process, be sure to check it out. Don’t forget to take the survey at the end to tell us what topics you’d like to learn more about and how you’d like us to share that information.

Knoxville-Knox County Planning staff is undertaking a small area study for the portion of Alcoa Highway within Knox County. This work follows a design charette that was held by the East Tennessee Community Design Center in 2019. In 2020, the City of Knoxville and Knox County each approved resolutions for Planning to undertake a study to develop an approach and policies to envision and manage development along the highway. The final recommendations will look at land uses along the corridor, considering specific changes needed to spur that redevelopment and encourage retail, commercial, and increased housing.

A community meeting is scheduled for September 30, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. It will be held at the North Campus of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, 2939 Alcoa Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920. The meeting will open with a short presentation followed by an open house.

In addition to this in-person meeting, a virtual meeting will also be held earlier that day. A presentation will be given, followed by time for questions, at 12:00 p.m. on September 30. Interested individuals can register to participate at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ygDcamdwRhOWEt9PjydUjA

Jace was born in Maryland, but spent his childhood split between Bartlett and Cordova, TN, just outside of Memphis. He stayed there until he moved across the state to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. Jace graduated from UT in the spring of 2021 with a degree in geography and a minor in history. Through his coursework in geography, he developed a particular interest in geographic information systems (GIS).

Jace is also interested in the environment, and that curiosity helped him find AmeriCorps as he was deciding what to do after graduation. He was initially attracted to Knoxville’s CAC group because of their focus on the environment and recognized the program as an opportunity to grow professionally. When he came across the open position with the TPO he was eager to learn more about the position. With this opportunity he hopes to help UT students become more aware of AmeriCorps and the opportunities their programs offer.

During his time with the TPO, Jace will help with bike shop outreach, Bike Month, events like Parking Day and Tour de Lights, the Smart Trips program, and bicycle and pedestrian counts. He’s already started reaching out to local bike shops and is enjoying it. He recently shared that he hopes to foster more local outreach, especially at UT, to increase awareness of the TPO’s work.

Jace’s familiarity with GIS also gives him an opportunity to get involved in other projects with the TPO and Planning during his time with us. He’s particularly excited to learn more about transportation-related GIS work.

When he’s not in the office, you can find Jace running on the greenway, beer tasting, and playing video games. He’s also a fan of seeing movies, especially anything Marvel, in the theater. Jace happily reports that he’s enjoyed a few at the downtown Regal location in person since it reopened. We’re excited to have him with us this year and look forward to all his contributions!

The Program of Projects (POP) is a listing of how federal transit funds will be spent in the urban area. The Knoxville urban area received stimulus funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). The FTA stimulus funding is distributed through the FTA Section 5307 and Section 5310 Programs.

The City of Knoxville is the Designated Recipient of the FTA Section 5307 Formula Urban Area funds and the TPO is the Designated Recipient of the FTA Section 5310 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities funds.

If you have any questions please contact Doug Burton at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37902 or at (865) 215-3824 or at doug.burton@knoxtpo.org. 

The TPO Executive Board will act on the Section 5310 Program funds at their meeting on September 22, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. in the City County Building – 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902.   

At the request of the Blount County Commission and in conjunction with the Virtual Design Meeting held in April 2021, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will host an in-person Design public meeting on September 21, 2021, to gather additional public input on the proposed project in Blount County on SR-162 EXT (Pellissippi Parkway), from SR-33 to SR-73 (US-321).

The meeting will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. EST at Heritage High School, 3741E Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804.

For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/pellissippi.html