Public Review and Comment Period for Short Conformity Report for April 2024 Knoxville Regional TPO TIP Amendments

This report constitutes a conformity determination being made on air quality non-exempt
project amendments to the FY 2023 – 2026 Knoxville Regional TPO Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is the federally required short-range document that is a
subset of and implements the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan of the TPO – currently
known as Mobility Plan 2045.

Short Conformity Report for April 2024 Knoxville Regional TPO TIP Amendments

Public Review and Comment Period for Air Quality Conformity Determination on Amendments to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2023 – 2026 Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a 30-day public review and comment period (March 27, 2023 through April 25, 2022) for amendments to the FY2023 – 2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) involving existing project ID’s #23-2014-025 (Pellissippi Pkwy Extension) and #23-2020-005 (Foothills Mall Dr Extension Ph. 2). The TPO is soliciting public comments on the Air Quality Conformity Determination made for this amendment package. You are invited to comment by phone, email or in-person at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN. Additionally, public comments may be made at the TPO Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 held at 9 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN. Comments can be made to Mike Conger at 865-215-3813 or at Mike.Conger@knoxtpo.org.

Short Conformity Report for April 2023 Knoxville Regional TPO TIP Amendments

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, April 26, 2023 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 2023 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 Plan public involvement process.  If there are no changes, the POP will be considered final. 

Proposed Program of Projects

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, April 25, 2023 to be read during the meeting.   

Public Review and Comment Period: Draft FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Draft Mobility Plan 2045 amendment and associated Air Quality Conformity Report available for public comment from September 22, 2022 through October 21, 2022

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Board, responsible for comprehensive transportation planning in the Knoxville Urban Area including Knox County and parts of Anderson, Blount, Loudon, Roane, and Sevier Counties, is updating its TIP from the federal fiscal year period of 2020 – 2023 to the federal fiscal years 2023 – 2026.

The TIP identifies projects that will be funded and implemented over the next four years. The TIP is the short-range element of the TPO transportation planning process that advances projects identified in the regional long-range transportation plan known as the Mobility Plan 2045. The Mobility Plan is being amended to align with the latest project information identified through the TIP development process.

An Air Quality Conformity Determination report was prepared to demonstrate that the implementation of projects within the FY 2023-2026 TIP and amended Mobility Plan will conform with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

In addition to the TPO’s TIP and amended Mobility Plan, the air quality conformity determination also covers projects within the entire Knoxville Region that are subject to transportation conformity, which includes areas outside of the TPO Planning Area. These areas include portions of Anderson, Blount, Cocke, Jefferson, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties and cover projects from the updated FY 2023 – 2026 State TIP (STIP) prepared by the Tennessee Department of Transportation as well as the FY 2023 – 2026 TIP prepared by the Lakeway Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization.

The the draft TIP, Mobility Plan amendment and air quality conformity determination may be viewed at the following links:

Comments can be submitted to Craig Luebke via email at craig.luebke@knoxtpo.org or by phone at 865-215-3825. Copies of the draft TIP are also available for review at the TPO office (400 Main St., Suite 403 Knoxville, TN).

The draft TIP will be discussed at the September 28, 2022 TPO Executive Board meeting and the October 18, 2022 TPO Technical Committee meeting. The TIP is scheduled for final adoption at the October 26, 2022 Executive Board meeting. Each of the meetings will be held at 9:00 am in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building (400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN). The public is welcome at all meetings.

If you need assistance or accommodation for a disability, please contact the TPO at 865-215-2694 and we will be glad to work with you in obliging any reasonable request.

Public Review and Comment Period for Air Quality Conformity Determination on Amendments to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program.

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a 30-day public review and comment period (June 27, 2022 through July 26, 2022) for an amendment to the FY2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) involving existing project #20-2014-038 (Washington Pike Widening). The TPO is soliciting public comments on the Air Quality Conformity Determination made for this amendment. You are invited to comment by phone, email or in-person at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN. Additionally, public comments may be made at the TPO Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 held at 9 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN. Comments can be made to Mike Conger at 865-215-3813 or at Mike.Conger@knoxtpo.org.

If you would like a printed copy or need assistance or accommodation for a disability, please contact the TPO at 865-215-2506 or Dori.Caron@knoxplanning.org.

July 2022 TIP Amendment – Short Conformity Report

Public Review and Comment Period for Air Quality Conformity Determination on Amendments to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a 30-day public review and comment period (March 27, 2022 through April 26, 2022) for an amendment to the FY2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) involving existing project #20-2020-012 (Relocated Alcoa Hwy phase 1). The TPO is soliciting public comments on the Air Quality Conformity Determination made for this amendment. You are invited to comment by phone, email or in-person at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN. Additionally, public comments may be made at the TPO Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 held at 9 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN. Comments can be made to Mike Conger at 865-215-3813 or at Mike.Conger@knoxtpo.org.

If you would like a printed copy or need assistance or accommodation for a disability, please contact the TPO at 865-215-2506 or Laura.Edmonds@knoxplanning.org.

April 2022 TIP Amendment Short Conformity Report

Public Review and Comment Period for Air Quality Conformity Determination on an Amendment to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) FY 2020 – 2023 State Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has completed an air quality conformity determination document on the behalf of TDOT to demonstrate air quality conformity for Amendment #98 to the 2020-2023 State Transportation Improvement Program. Amendment #98 is for the new Sevier and Jefferson Counties Project Number 2078220, SR-35/US 411,  (Newport Hwy.) from near Sims Rd. in Sevier Co. to near SR-92 in Jefferson Co. This project consists of constructing a rural five-lane highway on a new alignment. Air quality conformity for transportation project amendments is required in Sevier County as a former Maintenance Area designated under EPA’s national ambient air quality standard for ozone.

The public is being asked to review this document and provide comments to the TPO.  The comments and suggestions will then be reviewed and responded to/incorporated into the document as appropriate.

To provide comments or ask questions:

1)         Email contacttpo@knoxplanning.org
2)         Write to:  Knoxville Regional TPO
Attn: Mike Conger
400 Main Street, Suite 403
Knoxville, TN 37902

Amendment | Air Quality Conformity Determination

Draft Outreach Plan Available

The Outreach Plan fulfills federal requirements and serves as a working tool for TPO staff to refer to with each new plan and project. The last Outreach Plan update was adopted by the Executive Board in 2018. In this update, we have incorporated new outreach methods and noted the importance of flexibility and dedication to using new methods when possible.

The draft document is available for review and comment until October 10, 2021. If you have comments on the plan, please email Ally Ketron at ally.ketron@knoxplanning.org or 865-215-3234 or comment in person at an upcoming TPO Technical Committee or Executive Board Meeting. Details on those meetings can be found at https://knoxtpo.org/boards-and-committees/.

Public Review and Comment Period: Air Quality Conformity Determination on Amendments to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a 30-day public review and comment period (August 23, 2021 through September 21, 2021) for amendments to the FY2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) involving existing projects #20-2014-035 (Relocated Alcoa Hwy), #20-2014-069 (Alcoa Hwy) and new project #20-2020-012 (Relocated Alcoa Hwy combined). The TPO is soliciting public comments on the Air Quality Conformity Determination made for these amendments. You are invited to comment by phone, email or in-person at 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN. Additionally, public comments may be made at the TPO Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 held at 9 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN. Comments can be made to Mike Conger at 865-215-3813 or at Mike.Conger@knoxtpo.org.

If you would like a printed copy or need assistance or accommodation for a disability, please contact the TPO at 865-215-2506 or Laura.Edmonds@knoxplanning.org.

TIP Amendment Short Conformity Report

Public Review and Comment Period: Air Quality Conformity Determination

An Air Quality Conformity Determination report was prepared to demonstrate that the implementation of projects within Mobility Plan 2045 will conform with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. This ensures that federal funds will not be spent on projects that cause or contribute to any new violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); increase the frequency or severity of NAAQS violations; or delay timely attainments of the NAAQS or any required interim milestone.

A draft of the Air Quality Conformity Report can be viewed and downloaded at www.knoxmobility.org. A copy of the report is also available for review at the TPO office at 400 Main St., Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 39702.

Comments can be submitted through April 7, 2021 to mobility@knoxplanning.org, by phone at 865-215-4034, or mailed to the TPO’s address listed above.

Draft Air Quality Conformity Determination Report