Knoxville Regional Transportation Workshops
Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2008/05/19 - 3:33pm

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization is holding a series of workshops to get public input on the region's long range transportation plan.

Ellen Zavisca, Transportation Planner with the TPO says:

This plan is important because it's an opportunity to take the long view on where we want to go as a community, and how we want to get there.

Transportation in East Tennessee, with a few notable exceptions, is all about cars. But gas prices, infrastructure costs, air quality impacts and other factors have got people and governments starting to think about different ways of doing things.

We hope that this plan can be part that change in thinking. To do that, we need to hear from lots of people, so we are encouraging people to get involved.

The TPO also has an online survey regarding priorities for the long range plan. Following are the workshop schedules:

REGIONAL MOBILITY PLAN 2035 PUBLIC WORKSHOPS

Meetings begin at 6 p.m. unless noted otherwise, and should last about an hour.

Knox County

• Bonny Kate Public Library, Tuesday, May 27

• City County Bldg, Small Assembly Room, Thursday, May 29 (begins at 6:30)

• Halls Public Library, Monday, June 2

• Cedar Bluff Public Library, Thursday, June 5

• Burlington Public Library, Thursday, June 5

Loudon County

• Loudon County Visitor’s Bureau, Wednesday, May 28

Blount County

• Blount County Public Library, Wednesday, June 4

Anderson County

• Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, June 3

Sevier County

• Sevierville Civic Center, Thursday, May 29

Topics:
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Lisa Starbuck's picture

Hint, Hint

Submitted by Lisa Starbuck on Mon, 2008/05/19 - 4:25pm.

Think rail.

Bill Pittman's picture

I agree with rail but also

Submitted by Bill Pittman on Mon, 2008/05/19 - 8:58pm.

I agree with rail but also we should plan the demise of I40 through downtown...I know that some think I'm beating the proverbial dead horse but we should think long term...maybe 3rd time's charm?

Hayduke's picture

I realize all the bribes

Submitted by Hayduke on Mon, 2008/05/19 - 9:10pm.

I realize all the bribes have been paid and all the engineering studies have been done to the latest 1968 standards, so I don't expect them to go away empty-handed but how about if we let them keep the money and just take a two-year vacation if they promise not to build the thing?

If they get bored after a while they could come back and build sidewalks.

Tina Rolen's picture

It's evolutionary...

Submitted by Tina Rolen (not verified) on Thu, 2008/05/22 - 11:17am.

Rail is a nice thing, but we've got to see increased useage of our existing transit system as well as more folks biking, walking and carpooling to work to justify it. Maybe throw in some rapid transit bus service in the interim. If you want rail, ride the bus, encourage others to do so, and create the critical mass.

Brian A.'s picture

Transportation in East

Submitted by Brian A. on Mon, 2008/05/19 - 5:44pm.

Transportation in East Tennessee, with a few notable exceptions, is all about cars. But gas prices, infrastructure costs, air quality impacts and other factors have got people and governments starting to think about different ways of doing things.

We hope that this plan can be part that change in thinking.

Indeed. It's going to take a lot of effort to undo the damage wrought by 70 years of auto-centric planning.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

gonzone's picture

Thanks for the Info

Submitted by gonzone on Thu, 2008/05/22 - 9:26am.

Thanks for the info Randy.
I went and did the survey and, naturally, recommended light rail for the area. Of course I also did that during the now infamous "9 counties, 1 vision" thing too but it went nowhere. Hopefully I can make one of these meetings but the COC facility for Anderson county is not exactly neutral ground.

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

R. Neal's picture

A good place to start on

Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2008/05/22 - 11:19am.

A good place to start on rail is to use existing infrastructure to get more freight off trucks on the highways and onto trains.

metulj's picture

That's a dilemma though as

Submitted by metulj on Thu, 2008/05/22 - 11:51am.

That's a dilemma though as longer distance train service is reliant on the railroads' rails, and more freight on the rails (good thing!) means more delays and less uptake on passenger rail (bad thing). One of the frustrating things about Amtrak's long distance services is the long waits on sidings while CSX or NS shunt containers or leave a coal train sticking out on the the main road because the sidings can't accomodate long trains. The LAW is that the freight rail is supposed to heave-to for passenger rail (even on their own tracks), but there has never been an instance where Amtrak as pressed charges for scheduling delays. Why? Well, Amtrak is treated as a guest and not a customer/partner on the rails and guests do not complain to hosts about the softness of the pillows.

Note: I am very excited about getting to move to a small city that has regular Amtrak service!

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

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