Downtown / South Knoxville Connectivity Study

The City of Knoxville is launching a Downtown / South Knoxville Connectivity Study – and, to be most effective, the planners need to hear from residents.
 
A kickoff drop-in open house is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building. Residents are encouraged to review maps and traffic-flow data, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to the project team.
 
Also — please take this online survey, which will be available for a month:





A lot has changed in just a few years in the relatively compact area where Downtown and South Knoxville meet:

• Thousands of residents now live along the Chapman Highway and Blount Avenue corridors in new apartments.
 
• The popularity of the Urban Wilderness and Sevier Avenue commercial district has spiked.
 
• The 127-year-old Gay Street Bridge can no longer accommodate the weight of vehicular traffic, but it’s used by hundreds of bicyclists and pedestrians each day. The majority of motorists who once used the Gay Street Bridge have diverted to the James White Parkway Bridge, according to traffic count data.
 
Citywide, who uses which of the three bridges crossing the Tennessee River, and why? Which bridge(s) have capacity to efficiently move more commuters?
 
And how do existing and future greenways, bike routes and transit options improve mobility and connectivity?
 
These and additional questions are a part of the Downtown / South Knoxville Connectivity Study, which will assess opportunities to improve connectivity across the Tennessee River. The study is focusing on lower-cost high-impact improvements that strengthen access and mobility. The study will identify issues, opportunities and priorities that will guide the City’s future planning.