2020 Federally Obligated Projects Now Available
Offices Closed Wednesday, November 11
Our offices will be closed Wednesday, November 11, 2020, in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12.
Title VI Report Available
As the recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding, the TPO is required to prepare a Title VI Report every three years. Knoxville-Knox County Planning (Planning) provides staff and is the contracting agency for the TPO. For this report, both entities (Planning and TPO) are referenced and are considered one-in-the-same. While the TPO is required to follow Title VI regulations with all sources of federal transportation funding, this report specifically covers FTA funding. The TPO Executive Board will vote to approve the Title VI Report at their meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. If you have any comments or questions please contact Doug Burton at 865-215-3824 or doug.burton@knoxtpo.org. Any official comment should be submitted by Tuesday, November 24th by 2:00 p.m. 2020 Title VI Report
RFQ/LOI – Regional Pavement Management System
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.
TPO Welcomes AmeriCorps Member
Chelsea Foster was born in Indianapolis, IN, and remained there until moving to a small town in the northern part of the state to attend Goshen College. She majored in history at the small liberal arts school and also became familiar with environmentalism and sustainability. By the time she was writing her thesis on displacement caused by highway construction, Chelsea realized that many of these practices and subjects, like composting, active transportation, and environmental justice, had become passions. Chelsea’s growing interest in environmental and racial justice and the importance of those concepts in cities introduced her to urban planning. When exploring options for next steps after graduation, she learned of TPO’s AmeriCorps opening. Though she didn’t have a move to Tennessee on her radar, she knew the position was a perfect fit and was excited to be offered the spot. In her position as an AmeriCorps Member, Chelsea will manage bicycle and pedestrian counts and present information to area high school driver’s education classes and other interested groups. She will likely lean more on virtual platforms than ever before and have to find alternative ways to reach students during the pandemic. Chelsea is also looking forward to learning more about planning, getting a better understanding of the work involved in planning processes, finding opportunities for community engagement, and working with other government agencies and partnering organizations. When she isn’t in her TPO or home office, you’ll likely find Chelsea spending time outside. She loves hiking, soccer, and yoga and is excited to explore natural resources in the area. Her creative side leads her to also spend time reading, drawing, and taking photographs. We’re excited to show her what our region has to offer, and looking forward to the contributions she makes in her time with us. Welcome, Chelsea!
Traffic Crash Trends During Covid-19
Transportation staff have been tracking trends in traffic crashes and fatalities during the Covid-19 related shutdown and have continued analyzing the data as businesses and work sites gradually re-open. To no one’s surprise, there was a big drop-off in reported crashes across the region in late March and April. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a similar decline in traffic fatalities. As a result, the share of crashes resulting in one or more deaths has increased since mid-March. We’ve seen a similar trend statewide in Tennessee: traffic crashes are down from previous years, but fatalities are not. There are two additional statewide trends of note: traffic fatalities among people walking and teen drivers are up this year. In our region, the number of traffic crashes and fatalities involving people walking or bicycling have declined from previous years. More details can be found in this presentation.
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.
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.
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.