Meetings to be Held to Plan the Future of Transportation in Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will hold a series of public meetings throughout the state on September 13, 14 and 20, 2004. These meetings are an important part of TDOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) development.

The public meeting for Knox and surrounding counties will be held September 13 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at The Candy Factory in the Community Room at 1060 Worlds Fair Park Drive in Knoxville.

The LRTP will cover all modes of transportation: aviation, bicycle and pedestrian, highways and bridges, ports and waterways, public transportation, and rail. Under the guidance of Governor Phil Bredesen and Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely, the multimodal plan will develop a comprehensive 25-year vision for Tennessee’s transportation system to be completed late next summer.

In preparation for the first round of meetings, TDOT has gathered information on trends in Tennessee in such areas as population and employment, personal transportation, and freight movement. They have also identified a number of challenges and opportunities facing the state in providing transportation to a growing population and changing economy.

The September meetings offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the LRTP and the challenges and opportunities in transportation. Also, TDOT will ask the public to provide local and regional input on statewide challenges and opportunities and to help develop goals and objectives for the transportation system.

“Based on public input and solid technical information we will develop a plan to evaluate, prioritize and deliver transportation projects in a responsible manner,” stated Commissioner Nicely.

Exhibits on the LRTP will be available beginning at 6:00pm. A half-hour presentation will begin at 6:30pm, and then the public will have time to ask questions and provide comments.

A draft copy of the Challenges and Opportunities report is available at www.tennessee.gov/tdot and at the main public libraries in Memphis, Jackson, Martin, Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City.

In addition to information about the statewide LRTP, representatives from the Knoxville Area Transportation Planning Organization and the Lakeway Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in Morristown will provide attendees with information about local long range planning efforts. The representatives will explain how local planning efforts relate to the statewide transportation plan.

TDOT is committed to listening to the public and providing a transportation system that takes Tennesseans where they want to go in the future. The public can provide input at any time during the planning process by:

Calling toll free: 1-866-389-8443

Sending an email: PlanGO@tn.gov

Visiting the website: www.tennessee.gov/tdot