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FY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program – Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), Surface Transportation Block Grant – Transportation Alternatives (STBG-TA), Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ PM 2.5) Federal Funding Opportunity

Purpose

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is currently developing the Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is updated on a three-year cycle and covers a period of four years. Therefore, the current FY 2023-2026 TIP will transition to a new FY 2026-2029 TIP. This call for projects allows jurisdictions to apply for new projects or roll over and update unobligated phases of projects currently programmed in the FY 2023-2026 TIP.

Funding Availability

  • Local Surface Transportation Block Grant (L-STBG): TPO staff projects a federal fund balance of approximately $70.2 million in FY 2026 available to program projects rolled over from the current TIP, cover funding shortfalls in rollover projects and fund new projects. Fiscal years 2027 through 2029 are projected to have approximately $14 million available annually.
  • Local Surface Transportation Block Grant Transportation Alternatives Program (L-STBG-TA): Approximately $5.2 million is available to program projects rolled over from the current TIP, cover funding shortfalls in rollover projects and fund new projects in FY 2026. Fiscal years 2027 through 2029 are projected to have approximately $1.7 million available annually.
  • Carbon Reduction Program (CRP): Approximately $2.6 million is available to program projects rolled over from the current TIP, cover funding shortfalls in rollover projects and fund new projects in FY 2026. Fiscal years 2027 through 2029 are projected to have approximately $1.7 million available annually.
  • Final revenue amounts will be determined by authorizations from the federal transportation bill. Carryover funds may be impacted by cost increases within the current TIP program.
  • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) PM 2.5 Program: While the TPO has not received programming authority for CMAQ PM 2.5 funds beyond 2025, this project call serves as an opportunity to develop a project list from which the TPO can coordinate with the TDOT Air Quality Office to seek programming authority in FY 2026 and beyond.

Project Eligibility

STBG projects to improve roadway safety, capacity, operations, or other conditions must be located facilities identified on the federal functional classification system as an Urban Minor Collector or higher. Bicycle/Pedestrian and other multimodal projects (e.g., sidewalks, greenways, transit) are not required to be on the federal functional classification system. Most projects require a 20% local match.

STBG-TA also projects typically require a 20% local match. Transportation Alternatives eligible programs and projects include, but are not limited to:

  • On- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including trails for nonmotorized use.
  • Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
    • Community improvement activities:
    • Historic preservation
  • Vegetation management
  • Environmental mitigation for stormwater and habitat connectivity
  • Recreational trail projects
  • Safe routes to school projects

More information about the STBG-TA program and eligible project types can be found here.

CRP funding is available for projects that support the reduction of transportation emissions. More information about the CRP program and eligible project types can be found here: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/energy/policy/crp_guidance.pdf

CMAQ funding is available to reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas).

In addition, projects should be included in the fiscally constrained project list of the Knoxville TPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Mobility Plan 2050). In some instances, projects not individually listed, yet consistent with Mobility Plan 2050, may be eligible to proceed. Projects not currently included in the Mobility Plan fiscally constrained project list should be considered for the TIP only when new funds have been identified to advance the project.

Application Process

Fillable application forms are included in the links below. New projects (those not rolled over from FY 2023-2026 TIP) will submit a full application form. Projects programmed in the current TIP (and eligible for rollover programming, as determined by TIP Policies) will submit a simplified project rollover/update form. Please contact TPO staff for any questions about the application forms, or to verify which form to complete.

Applications are due to TPO staff by Friday, February 28th.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects will be scored based on the goals and factors developed as part of the Mobility Plan 2050 and identified on the Application Form. Other criteria that TPO staff will be evaluating in making project selection recommendations will involve an assessment of project completion scheduling and assessment of project delays as determined by TIP programming policies. This assessment will be based on ease of project implementation, past performance of the sponsoring agency in the TDOT project development process and amount/status of other projects already under development by the sponsoring agency.

Call for Projects Timeline and Draft TIP Development Schedule

  • Begin Call for Projects – January 17, 2025
  • End Call for Projects – Friday, February 28, 2025
  • TPO Staff Scoring and Project Selection Recommendation – March, 2025
  • Draft TIP to Technical Committee/Executive Board for Review – June, 2025
  • Final TIP Technical Committee Recommendation/Executive Board Adoption – October, 2025

While individuals may not submit project applications, we encourage the public to reach out to your local leaders now if there is a project you think should be included.

Related Documents

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Public Review and Comment Period for Short Conformity Report for April 2024 Knoxville Regional TPO TIP Amendments

This report constitutes a conformity determination being made on air quality non-exempt
project amendments to the FY 2023 – 2026 Knoxville Regional TPO Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is the federally required short-range document that is a
subset of and implements the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan of the TPO – currently
known as Mobility Plan 2045.

Short Conformity Report for April 2024 Knoxville Regional TPO TIP Amendments

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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