Posted on

Transit Program of Projects Public Hearing Scheduled

The Executive Board of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will hold a Public Hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the purpose of considering public comment both written and
oral on the proposed Program of Projects (POP) funded by Fiscal Year 2024 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 Planning 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 and additional information can be viewed at www.knoxtpo.org. 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, July 23, 2024 to be read during the meeting.


Posted on

TPO Receives Federal Certification

The Knoxville Regional TPO successfully completed the federal certification review of the metropolitan transportation planning and programming process.

Every four years, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) are required to jointly review and evaluate the planning process of the TPO. This ensures that our plans meet federal regulations.

As part of the certification process, the TPO submitted a list of major accomplishments since 2020. Some of the highlights from the past four years include the adoption of:

  • Mobility Plan 2045
  • Public Outreach Plan
  • Regional Roadway Safety Action Plan
  • Transportation Improvement Program

The following studies were also completed by the TPO and regional transit providers:

  • KAT Re-Imagined Study
  • Transit Coordination Study
  • Regional Transit Study

These accomplishments, along with participation and input from TDOT, TPO staff, TPO Technical Committee and Executive Board members, and the public, were considered in the review and evaluation process.

The FHWA and the FTA found that the planning process carried out in the Knoxville regional area meets federal requirements and reported no corrective actions.

Beyond meeting the federal requirements, the TPO exceeded expectations and received commendations in these areas:

  • Organizational structure — The TPO maintained a high level of performance.
  • Performance based planning and programming — This specifically acknowledges the Regional Pavement Management System.
  • Transportation Improvement program development and management — This recognition is in regard to the TPO’s biannual project review meetings that help reduce project delivery delays.

The final report includes recommendations for consideration in our work program, most of which will be covered by Mobility Plan 2050:

  • Collaborate with TDOT and local planning partners to develop projects for TDOT’s 10-year plan,
  • Implement a formal review of the transit planning agreement with the regional transit partners to ensure consistency in plans and programs,
  • Add a performance measure dashboard to the website so the public can better understand regional transportation data and system performance targets,
  • Align freight development plans in Mobility Plan 2050 with TDOT’s Statewide Multimodal Freight Plan, and
  • Continue to develop plans that incorporate safety and equity for vulnerable road users.

This certification will remain in effect until 2028, when the review and evaluation will be repeated.