Posted on

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

Posted on

Input Opportunities for Mobility Plan 2045

Mobility Plan 2045 is the region’s long-range transportation plan that will guide investments and shape the future of our region for the next 25 years. The plan is updated every four years to account for changes in community and regional priorities, technology, project costs, and available funding. It allows federal money to be used for transportation projects and ensures that we’re making the best long-term decisions for our residents, employers, and visitors.

The plan tries to determine the best ways to continue building prosperity and maintaining a high quality of life for all those in our region. To do this, we must find ways to make our transportation system safer and more efficient, improve the health of our residents and reduce air pollution, improve links among transportation, infrastructure and development, and provide equal access to benefits and opportunities. Digging into these issues allows us to prioritize transportation projects that accommodate all modes with a variety of different project types.

Last fall, local jurisdictions submitted applications for all potential transportation projects to be included in Mobility Plan 2045. Projects were selected and prioritized after consideration of both technical analysis and public input. The TPO has released a draft of Mobility Plan 2045 and an accompanying project list for a final round of community input. Comments will be accepted through April 7.

The draft plan is available at knoxmobility.org and the interactive map can be found at maps.knoxmpc.org/app/mobility. The map allows users to zoom in to any county within the TPO planning area and filter projects by mode to see those directly affecting them. It also allows users to submit comments on projects straight from the map.

To provide more information about the draft plan, and to give community members an opportunity to speak to staff about specific topics and projects, a series of virtual meetings has been scheduled throughout the month of March. Transportation Tuesdays will be hosted during lunch for three Tuesdays in the month, and each will focus on a different theme relating to the plan. There will also be two Virtual Town Hall events held at the end of the month. These will allow participants to move into breakout rooms organized by county to find out more about specific projects that are important to them. Finally, the regularly scheduled TPO Technical Committee and Executive Board Meetings will be open to the public.

Transportation Tuesdays:
Tuesday, March 9, 12:00 p.m.  – Mobility Plan 2045 Overview
Tuesday, March 16, 12:00 p.m. – Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit
Tuesday, March 23, 12:00 p.m. – Streets and Highways

Virtual Town Halls:
Thursday, March 25, 12:00 p.m. – County specific project overview
Thursday, March 25, 5:00 p.m. – County specific project overview

Regularly Scheduled Meetings:
Tuesday, March 9, 9:00 a.m. – TPO Technical Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. – TPO Executive Board Meeting

Registration links are available at knoxmobility.org.

Community input helped TPO staff determine the final project list, and staff wants to ensure residents are aware of the final steps of adopting the plan. Once the plan is adopted by the Executive Board, many of these projects will start to move through the development process, but that does not mean that residents have missed their opportunity to make a difference. It is important that community members stay engaged throughout the life a project because their continued input can have a big impact in shaping details of how a project unfolds.

Posted on

Public Review and Comment Period: Draft Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan

The purpose of the Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan is to identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, seniors, and people with low incomes and provide a list of prioritized strategies to meet those needs.

The TPO receives funding from Federal Transit Administration Section 5310, a program designed to improve mobility for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and persons of low-income, which is required to be in the plan. The TPO Executive Board makes the final decision on which projects are selected, and staff are tasked with ensuring that those projects are in keeping with the strategies found within the plan.

The TPO is updating this plan for the first time since 2013 to ensure that identified needs, gaps in current services, strategies for meeting those gaps, and projects within the plan are still up-to-date. A survey was recently distributed to staff, boards, committees, contacts, and clients of local human-service agencies and non-profits to gather opinions and preferences. A report showing a summary of responses is available in the Appendix of the draft

Draft Plan Executive Summary

The Plan draws from previous planning efforts as well as feedback received through the survey and key interviews. It is now available for review by stakeholders and interested individuals and will be voted on by the TPO Technical Committee and Executive Board in October. Once approved, it will be incorporated into Mobility Plan 2045, the region’s long-range transportation plan, which will be available in 2021.

The draft HSTCP is available for public comment through Friday, November 6, 2020.  The HSTCP will be on the November 25, 2020 TPO Executive Board agenda as an action item for approval.  To make comments on the HSTCP or to request any special accommodations please contact Doug Burton at Knoxville Regional TPO – 400 Main Street, Suite 403 Knoxville, TN 37902 – 865-215-3824 – doug.burton@knoxtpo.org.

Posted on

Input Needed on Mobility Plan 2045 Project List

The TPO needs your input on the proposed list of projects for Mobility Plan 2045! This long-range transportation plan is updated every four years and guides transportation investments in the region. It allows federal money to be received for transportation projects and ensures that we’re making the best long-term decisions for our residents, employers, and visitors. Local jurisdictions recently submitted applications for potential projects to be included in the plan, and staff is now asking to hear your thoughts on them. Projects will be selected by considering both technical analysis and public input.  Once the final list is determined in the spring of 2021, these projects will start to move through the development process. They sometimes take as long as 20 years to complete, so hearing input from community members early in the process is vital to their success. A short survey and interactive map showing all candidate projects is now available. Please answer the initial questions to help us ensure everyone is involved in shaping the future of the Knoxville region. Anyone who answers the questions and provides an email address or telephone number will be eligible to win one of four $50 grocery store gift cards. After completing the survey, you will be directed to our online mapping application where you can provide your input on specific projects. You can also view the list of projects in this spreadsheet, which provides additional project details and allows you to filter by county, jurisdiction, and project type. The survey and map will be open for comments through October 11. For more information on Mobility Plan 2045, please visit https://knoxmobility.org. Additionally, if you need assistance in using the application or if there is a project you feel is needed but is not shown on the map, please email the project team at mobility@knoxplanning.org.
Posted on

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 (March 23, 2020 through April 22, 2020) for amendments to the FY2020 – 2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) involving projects #20-2014-003 (Alcoa Highway Widening) and #20-2014-007 (Foothills Mall Drive Extension). 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, April 14, 2020 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.

View Report

Posted on

Notice of Public Review: The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announces the beginning of a 30-day review and comment period on its 2020-2023 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announces the beginning of a 30-day review and comment period on its 2020-2023 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).  The STIP establishes projects for major construction and Public Transit over the four-year period, which will utilize available and projected Federal funds.
Posted on

Public Review and Comment Period: Air Quality Conformity Determination on an Amendment to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2017 – 2020 Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a public review and comment period (June 24, 2019 through July 23, 2019) for an amendment to the FY 2017 – 2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for project #17-2017-057 – Pellissippi Parkway (SR-162) at Oak Ridge Highway (SR-62) (Solway) Interchange. 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 9, 2019 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.

View Report
Posted on

Public Review and Comment for: Proposed Mobilty Plan 2040 and FY 2017-2020 TIP Amendments with Air Quality Conformity Determination

The TPO is initiating a 30-day public review and comment period from September 24, 2018 to October 24, 2018 for proposed amendments to the 2040 Mobility Plan and the Fiscal Years 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

These amendments required an updated air quality conformity determination, which is also made available for public review. 

Please refer to the items below and provide any questions or comments to Mike Conger with TPO staff at: mike.conger@knoxplanning.org. Additionally, public comments may be made at the TPO Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, or at the TPO Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Both meetings are held at 9 a.m. in the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN. The Technical Committee will meet in the Small Assembly Room and the Executive Board will meet in the Main Assembly Room.

The online, interactive map to view Mobility Plan transportation projects has been updated to reflect the amendments.
Posted on

Outreach Plan Available for Comment

The TPO prioritizes working with the public to develop transportation plans and programs. Significant public outreach results in greater community support for plans that help achieve the region’s goals for the future. The TPO's Outreach Plan serves as a working tool for TPO staff to refer to with each new plan to ensure that adequate public notice is given and the community is engaged throughout the project. A draft of this plan is now available for a 45 day comment period.

How can I comment on the Outreach Plan?

  • Contact Ally Ketron at 865-215-3234 or ally.ketron@knoxplanning.org.
  • Attend the Technical Committee Meeting at 9 a.m. on April 10, 2018 in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building (400 Main St., Knoxville, TN).
  • Attend the Executive Board Meeting at 9 a.m. on April 25, 2018 in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building (400 Main St., Knoxville, TN).

TPO Outreach Plan Draft Appendices

Posted on

Public Review And Comment Period: Air Quality Conformity Determination On Amendments To The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization FY 2017 – 2020 Transportation Improvement Program

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announces a public review and comment period (September 10, 2017 through September 26, 2017) for amendments to the FY2017 – 2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). 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 12, 2017, or at the TPO Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.  Both meetings are 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@knoxplanning.org.

The Air Quality Conformity Determination Report is available here.