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Call for Projects for TDOT Multimodal Access Grants

The TPO welcomes local governments to submit applications for the 2015-2016 round of Tennessee Department of Transportation Multimodal Access Grants.

The Multimodal Access Grant provides 95% state funds with a 5% local match for the purpose of supporting the transportation needs of transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists through infrastructure projects that address multimodal gaps along the state highway network.

Applications are due to the TPO at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. They should be sent to ellen.zavisca@knoxplanning.org. Any questions should go to Ellen Zavisca at that address or at 215-4014.

Here are the guidelines for the grant application. Here are Part 1 and Part 2 of the application. Here is the TPO's timeline for accepting and reviewing grant applications.

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2014 Traffic Counts Available via New Web-based Map

Monitoring traffic volumes on area roadways is an important tool that helps planners and engineers prioritize roadway improvements.

Annual traffic counts, gathered at over 2,000 locations in the region, show trends and identify areas where traffic may be approaching a roadway’s capacity.

For area realtors, bankers and land developers, traffic count information is equally important when analyzing locations for investment and marketing.

With the recent release of traffic counts collected in 2014, retrieval of multi-year histories of average daily traffic is now a point and click operation. The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization has developed a web-based map application that delivers several years of data for hundreds of traffic count stations on area roadways.

Access the map at knoxtrans.org/traffic-counts.

TPO traffic count web map showing fifteen years of data at a Tennessee Department of Transportation count station on Northshore Drive west of I-I40 in Knoxville.

Tips for using the map

Get the data:  click any station to retrieve counts at that location

Find locations:  type addresses, business names, places, or street names in the search box

View aerial photos:  use the Switch Basemap Button to view aerial photos and other basemaps

Download traffic counts:  Data for any count station can be downloaded for use in spreadsheet applications like Excel using the Download CSV button
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Open Streets Knoxville Event Planned for October

On Sunday, Oct. 25, Knoxvillians are invited to walk, bike, jog or dance their way through town at the first ever Open Streets Knoxville event.

A 1-mile stretch of Central Street, connecting Happy Holler to Emory Place and the Old City, will be closed to all motorized traffic, allowing revelers a day of shopping, playing, exercising and socializing all on foot or two wheels.

Open Streets Knoxville, hosted by Bike Walk Knoxville and with support from the City of Knoxville and Knoxville Regional TPO, aims to promote physical activity and community interaction during this free event. This international initiative promotes healthy living, local businesses and sustainable transportation in cities.

From 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 25, Central Street will be closed to motorized vehicles from Willow Street to Oklahoma Avenue. The event will feature kids’ activities, free exercise classes and opportunities for the public to learn and engage in healthful activities. Attendees can try their hand at Zumba or yoga, or peacefully stroll the street while enjoying live music and street performers. The family-friendly event will be stroller- and bicycle-friendly – just no cars!

Organizers currently are asking for sponsors and donations from members of the community to help make Open Streets Knoxville a huge success. For more information on donating or sponsoring, visit IOBY.org or Open Streets Knoxville.

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Alcoa Town Center Workshop Report Now Available

Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) staff, City of Alcoa officials and representatives from Smart Growth America hosted a community event and an in-depth workshop on September 1 and 2, 2015 to learn more about innovative approaches to pursuing quality small downtown development and redevelopment. 

View the report here to learn more about key development issues Alcoa faces and the community's options as it moves forward.

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Long Range Mobility Plan Amendments Spur Air Quality Conformity Determination

A set of project amendments for both the Long Range Regional Mobility Plan and FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program were adopted by the TPO Executive Board at their March 10, 2015 meeting.

An air quality conformity determination for these amendments was required due to the Knoxville Region's current air quality attainment status with Federal Clean Air Act regulations. A presentation was provided by the TPO staff that gives an overview of the transportation planning requirements associated with meeting the Federal air quality regulations and the conformity analysis that was conducted by the TPO to demonstrate compliance of its transportation plans with those requirements. View the presentation here.

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Attitudes Make a Difference with Walking/Biking Behavior

At their March meetings, the TPO's Technical Committee and Executive Board learned about the importance of attitudes and culture in implementing programs such as Safe Routes to School.

Jerry Everett, who is the research director for UT's Center for Transportation Research, conducted the study for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He learned, among other things, that Tennessee parents are more likely to say that their families would not approve of their children walking to school, as compared with parents in more bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities. You can see his presentation here.