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Mobility Plan 2050 Update

Because the Knoxville region has more than 50,000 people who call it home, Federal laws require that a Metropolitan Planning Organization be formed to make decisions impacting the region’s transportation system. In our region, that’s us, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)! The TPO is responsible for the transportation planning process in Knox County and parts of Anderson, Blount, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties.

The TPO is getting started on an update of our metropolitan transportation plan, or Mobility Plan 2050.  Completing this plan update allows us to receive federal money for transportation projects in our region. It also ensures that we are making the best long-term decisions for our residents, employers, and visitors.

Mobility Plan 2050 will look 25 years into the future, determining what we need to do now in anticipation of what we’ll need then. We’re starting the project by evaluating the current state of our transportation system. These existing conditions, combined with expectations for growth and infrastructure needs, are the foundation on which we start to build the vision for our future.

That evaluation includes things like job forecasts, commuting patterns, congestion trends, crash patterns, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and vulnerabilities, transit use, and more. In addition to this information, a major component of the Mobility Plan update is the consideration of how people in our region access benefits like quality jobs, adequate healthcare, education services, and other daily needs like healthy food and affordable housing. We use planning processes to prioritize transportation investments that improve access to these benefits for all population groups regardless of socioeconomic status or abilities.

Knowing that every resident has unique needs and uses the transportation system differently, we need your input on our region’s infrastructure. Your feedback guides our decision making and impacts which transportation projects rise to the top of the list when it comes times to fund them. Once these projects are identified in the Plan, they will start to move through the project development process. Depending on how large a project is, it can take 5, 10, or even 20 years to complete, which is why we need to start planning now.

Help us get started by taking the survey and commenting on our interactive map!

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Call for Projects: FTA Transit Funding

The TPO is soliciting projects to be funded through the FTA Section 5310-Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program. 

Projects can include both operating services and vehicle purchases.  Non-profits who serve the elderly or persons who are disabled may be eligible to apply for funding for vans or mini-buses to serve their clients.  Projects are selected through a competitive process.  The TPO Executive Board determines final awards.  Funding is through the Knoxville Knox County Planning, the contracting agency for the TPO.      

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, March 26, 2021. 

Applications and/or questions should be sent to:
Mr. Doug Burton
Knoxville Regional TPO
400 Main Street, Suite 403 – Knoxville, TN 37902
865-215-3824 or doug.burton@knoxtpo.org

Check this site frequently for updates.

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Public Notice: 2021 Transit Program of Projects (POP)

The proposed Program of Projects (POP) is a list of projects by each agency receiving Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 and Section 5339 funding.  For FY2021 Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), Knox County CAC Transit, and the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA) received funding.  Interested persons, agencies, and private transportation providers are encouraged to review and comment on the POP.  To be mailed or faxed a copy of the POP, or to provide comments contact Doug Burton at the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) 400 Main Street, Suite 403, Knoxville, TN 37902 or at (865) 215-3824 or at doug.burton@knoxtpo.org.  Comments must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 to be read during the meeting.   

The City of Knoxville is the Designated Recipient of the FTA funds.  The times established for public review and for allowing comment on the POP follow the Knoxville Reginal TPO’s Transportation Improvement Program public involvement process.  Witten and, if possible, oral comments will be allowed on the proposed POP.  If there are no changes, the POP will be considered final.   

The POP Public Hearing will be conducted in conjunction with the TPO Executive Board meeting.  Due to social-distancing safeguards to protect from the COVID-19 threat, the TPO Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. will be held electronically.  This includes the Public Hearing on the proposed FY2021 POP. The meeting will use the Zoom video-conferencing platform.  Further information will be on the TPO website, so check frequently for updates.

If you wish to make a public comment at the POP Public Hearing, live during the Executive Board meeting, please request access by contacting Laura Edmonds at laura.edmonds@knoxplanning.org or at 865-215-2506.  As part of your request please provide your full name, email address, and indicate you wish to comment on the POP.  Request must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.  Once a request is received, you will be sent an email invitation that will include a Zoom link that will enable you to connect to the meeting.

If you are unable to participate during the live meeting and you want to provide a public comment on the POP, you can do so in advance.  Please send your comments to Laura Edmonds or Doug Burton at the contact information above.  Clearly indicate your comments are on the POP and include your full name and email address.  Comments received will be read into the record during the live meeting.  Comments must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.  If you only want to view the meeting and do not want to make a public comment, you can watch the meeting both live and recorded on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/c/knoxvilleknoxcountyplanning/featured

Proposed POP 

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RFP – Transit Planning as a Service (SaaS)

Knoxville Knox County Planning in cooperation with Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) seeks Proposals for the provision of transit planning web-based Software as a Service (SaaS) to assist in planning and analyzing transit and other types of transportation planning efforts for the Knoxville metropolitan planning area. 

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Equity Matters: Creating a Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Transportation System for All

Active Knox hosted a virtual event on Dec. 3, 2020, featuring Charles T. Brown, founder and managing principal of Equitable Cities LLC.

Alongside local panelist Seema Singh from Knoxville City Council and Dr. Caroline Cooley from Bike Walk Knoxville, Charles shared his insights into how equitable access to transportation connects with public health and climate change.

This event was co-sponsored by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Sustainability and the League of Women Voters. It was the 14th speaker series for Active Knox, and the second one that we’ve held virtually.

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Design Matters: Increasing Physical Activity and Understanding Equity in Parks

Active Knox hosted two virtual events on Oct. 13, 2020, with UTK researchers Dr. Gene Fitzhugh and Dr. Cristina Barroso discussing their study of Knoxville’s parks and the impact of design on physical activity and health equity.


This was the 13th Active Knox series, and the first that we held virtually. 

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Survey: Transportation Needs for Seniors, People with Disabilities, & People of Low-Income.

The survey below takes less than 10 minutes, and your input would be appreciated.  Please feel free to forward the survey to anyone you think would be interested in taking it. Take the Survey: English Spanish The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is updating our Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan (HSTCP). The HSTCP is required for the Knoxville urbanized area and focuses on human service transportation or transportation services provided by public transit providers, human service agencies, and nonprofits that serve seniors, people with disabilities, and people of low-income. The Knoxville urbanized area consists of all of Knox, and portions of Anderson, Blount, Loudon, and Sevier Counties – including the major cities within. The main effort of the HSTCP is to identify where gaps in services exist and identify strategies to help fill those gaps. The HSTCP is used to shape transportation policy and can impact how federal and state funds are distributed in the region. If you would like to stay involved with the HSTCP update or any future public input opportunities, please share your email at the end of the survey. This is a very important survey for the Knoxville region and we greatly appreciate your participation
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Public Notice: How to Participate in the Executive Board Meeting

Instruction on how to participate in the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization Executive Board meeting and the Public Hearing on the FTA Section 5307/5339 Program of Projects The Knoxville Regional TPO Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. will be held electronically utilizing the Zoom video-conferencing platform. Included on the agenda is the Public Hearing on the proposed transit FY2020 Program of Projects. If you wish to make a public comment on any agenda item, live during the meeting, please request access by contacting Laura Edmonds at laura.edmonds@knoxplanning.org or at 865-215-2506. As part of your request please provide your full name, email address, and indicate which agenda item you wish to provide comment. Request must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Once a request is received, you will be sent an email invitation that will include a Zoom link that will enable you to connect to the meeting. If you are unable to participate during the live meeting and you want to provide a public comment, you can do so in advance. Please send your comments to Laura Edmonds at the contact information above. Clearly indicate which agenda item your comment concerns and include your full name, email address. Comments received will be read into the record during the live meeting. Comments must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. If you only want to view the meeting and do not want to make a public comment, you can watch the meeting both live and recorded on YouTube below. Watch Meeting Additional information on the Program of Projects and the Public Hearing can be viewed here.
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Public Notice: 2020 Transit Program of Projects (POP)

Due to social-distancing safeguards, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. will be held electronically. 

On the agenda is the Public Hearing on the proposed Program of Projects (POP) funded by FY2020 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula and Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities grants.  The meeting will utilize the Zoom video-conferencing platform.  Further information on how to access the meeting will be on the TPO website, so check frequently for updates.

The City of Knoxville is the Designated Recipient of the FTA funds.  The public involvement process, including the times established for public review and for allowing comment on the POP, follows the TPO’s Transportation Improvement Program public involvement process, as allowed by FTA and in accordance with appropriate federal regulations.  Written and, if possible, oral comments will be allowed on the proposed POP.  If there are no changes, the POP will be considered final. 

Interested persons or agencies and particularly private transportation providers are encouraged to participate in the process.  To be mailed or faxed a copy of the POP or to provide comments in advance of the meeting 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 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 to be read at the meeting.

Proposed POP 

Gov. Bill Lee’s Executive Order No. 16 recognizes the unprecedented COVID-19 threat and allows electronic meetings in compliance with the state’s Open Meetings Act.  The TPO will post a recording of the meeting on the TPO website within 48 hours of its conclusion.