After several months of public input, including stakeholder meetings and public input meetings, Knoxville Area Transit, working with Knoxville Transportation Authority (KTA) special committee members, has introduced proposed changes to the downtown trolley system.

The proposal calls for a restructuring of the trolley system into three new trolley lines: a Vol Line, which would travel from The University of Tennessee/Cumberland Avenue area, past the Convention Center and through downtown to Knoxville Station and the Civic Coliseum Garage; a Gay Street Line, which would travel up and down Gay Street, terminating at the southern end at Marriott Hotel on Hill Avenue, and at the northern end at the free parking underneath Interstate 40; a Downtown Loop Line which would connect the Civic Coliseum Garage and Knoxville Station with a downtown loop that serves Gay Street, Summit Hill, Locust Street and Main Street.

The proposal also calls for Saturday trolley service on the Vol Line and the Gay Street Line until 10:00 p.m., as well as later service on Friday evening for those two lines.

This proposal would replace current trolley services, which include the Orange Line, Blue Line, and Late Line trolley routes.

KAT examined the trolley system after the move to Knoxville Station created a prominent need to better connect people from the transit center to downtown. In addition, the public input process revealed other requests for the trolley service, including: Saturday service, later evening service, and connections further north on Gay Street.

The full proposal is available for viewing on KAT's website, www.katbus.com, and comments are encouraged. The KTA will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 28, 2011 to accept comments on the proposed changes. The public hearing will be held in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main Street. Comments can also be made by calling 637-3000 or by visiting the KAT website and clicking on "Contact us."

The KTA is scheduled to vote on proposed changes in May. If approved, the changes would take effect in mid-August of this year.