Knoxville, Tennessee – October 27, 2025 – The Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) was adopted by the TPO Executive Board at their meeting on Wednesday, October 22.

The TIP is a short-range transportation plan that includes federally funded and regionally significant projects. It serves to implement the region’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan, (Mobility Plan 2050). Accordingly, TIP projects must be included in, or consistent with, the Mobility Plan.

Projects identified within the TIP will be funded and implemented over the next four years and range from roadway modernization and road widening to safety improvements and multi-modal facilities. The plan includes a description and cost for each phase (e.g. design/ engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, capital purchases) that will occur within that timeframe.

The adopted plan and appendices, along with the associated Air Quality Conformity Determination, can be found at knoxtpo.org. Following final approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the FY 2026-2029 TIP will replace the current FY 2023-2026 TIP.

To stay updated on all TPO news, please sign up for the newsletter at knoxtpo.org/subscribe.

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a short-range transportation plan that includes federally funded and regionally significant projects. It serves to implement the region’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan, (Mobility Plan 2050). Accordingly, TIP projects must be included in, or consistent with, the Mobility Plan.

The draft FY 2026-2029 TIP identifies projects that will be funded and implemented over the next four years and provides a description and cost for each phase (e.g. design/ engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, capital purchases) that will occur within that timeframe.

Projects range from roadway modernization (like improving shoulders and integrating advanced traffic management systems) and widening roads (such as Washington Pike from North of I-640 to Murphy Road) to safety improvements (turn lanes and sidewalks) and multi-modal accessibility (Oak Ridge Rails to Trails and Broadway Accelerated Bus Corridor).

In conjunction with the TIP, an Air Quality Conformity Determination Report was prepared to demonstrate that implementing projects within it will conform with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The draft plan can be found at knoxtpo.org/projects/transportation-improvement-program, and the Air Quality Conformity Determination Report and other related information can be found in the draft appendix.

General comments can be submitted by email to Craig.Luebke@knoxplanning.org, or in person by attending one of the following public meetings where the plan will be considered. Public comments are encouraged to be made by October 14, 2025.

The Executive Board of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will hold a Public Hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, Tennessee. The board will consider public comments on the proposed Program of Projects (POP) funded by Fiscal Year 2025 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 Community Action Committee 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 information can be found below. 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, September 23, 2025 to be read during the meeting.

FY 2025 5310 POP Worksheet

FTA 5310 Proposed Projects