KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — A 20-year mobility study for Knox County is underway, aimed at improving roadway safety, accommodating growth and preparing for future transportation needs. The plan includes a range of initiatives such as widening narrow roads, adding bike and pedestrian lanes and reducing traffic hazards.
"They may be safety projects, capacity projects, modernization, like adding shoulder and also pedestrian and bike projects," said Stephanie Hargrove, the project manager.
According to Hargrove, the plan serves as a comprehensive guide for the county to prioritize projects and secure funding.
"We’re building a big toolbox for the county, to where they have all the tools to plan and pursue project funding and identify what the area needs and wants," she said.
Community engagement is a core component of the plan. Residents, including John Lamb, voiced their concerns about the impact of rapid development on existing infrastructure. Lamb highlighted how recent growth has strained local roads near his property.
"There’s so much trying to do some developments around my property, and the roads and infrastructure can’t deal with it," said Lamb.
Lamb and other community members shared their input at a meeting Thursday evening, hoping to make their voice heard in a plan that could guide transportation decisions for years to come.
"It looks like they’re going to try to make some improvements which definitely need to be done," Lamb said.
Safety data supports urgency for action. Over 3,000 police-reported crashes occurred in the area over the past five years. Hargrove emphasized that analyzing high-risk locations is a key aspect of the mobility plan.
"That’s a lot for this small area. So we really wanted to do a deep dive and look at the safety analysis and see where these high-risk crashes or these high-risk locations were happening," Hargrove said.
Hargrove encourages anyone who lives, works, or travels in the East Knox County area to take part in their survey. Another community meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gibbs Middle School.