Tennessee Department of Transportation
John Schroer, Commissioner

State Route 162 (Pellissippi Parkway Extension)

From SR 33 to SR 73 (US 321) in Blount County.

Project Alternatives

Preliminary Alternatives and Corridors Considered
During the initial stages of the EIS, a preliminary range of potential alternatives and corridors was identified to help address the transportation needs in the study area.  These alternatives and corridors have been developed as a result of public input from the public meetings as well as letters, emails and comment forms submitted, and based on input from local and regional agencies, including the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). The preliminary range of options included:

• No-Build Alternative
  
  
• Public Transit
  
  
• Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM) – Improve SR 33 and SR 35/Washington Street with intersection improvements, signal timing, and turn lanes;
  
  
• Improve currently deficient roads – Wildwood Road, SR 35/US 411, SR 33, and Davis Ford with improved shoulders and new turn lanes;
  
  
• Upgrade a network of existing roadways to serve as a two-lane connection between SR 33 and SR 73/US 321, using Sam Houston, Peppermint Road, Hitch Road, and Helton Road; and
  
  
• Extend Pellissippi Parkway from SR 33 to SR 73/US 321, in one of two potential location corridors (identified as Corridor A and Corridor B). 

Click here to see the preliminary alternative corridors map presented at February 19, 2008 Public Meeting, which illustrated Corridors A and B and the existing roads that were suggested by members of the public to be improved or upgraded.  [Note to webmaster – this graphic is included on the Public Involvement page.]

Refinement of Preliminary Alternatives and Corridors
Following the February 2008 public meeting, the range of alternatives and potential corridors was refined based on the results of preliminary environmental screening, consultation with resource agencies, and application of performance criteria.  During this process, TDOT conducted a field review with resources agencies to examine the potential alternatives and corridors.

The criteria used to evaluate how well potential alternatives/corridors would accomplish the purpose and need of the project were:

• Ability to achieve the purpose and need for the project
  
  
  • Enhance regional transportation system linkages: To meet this objective, an alternative should provide a reasonable connection with I-140 and provide for acceptable traffic operation of the existing I-140 interchange at SR 33.
    
    
  • Improve circumferential mobility by providing travel options to the existing radial roadway network in Blount County, Maryville, and Alcoa.  To meet this objective an alternative should provide an additional or enhanced path for vehicular traffic to travel between the north or northwestern portions of the county and the eastern portion of the county to avoid Maryville core at the US 321/US 129 intersections.  An alternative should contribute to the development of a non-radial route for the northeastern quadrant of Blount County.
    
    
  • Achieve acceptable traffic flows (level of service) on the existing local transportation network.  To meet this objective, an alternative should achieve acceptable level of service (LOS) for future traffic, and should improve LOS on the existing network (or at least not reduce future LOS from the current LOS), and improve travel times for traffic moving between northwestern Blount County and eastern Maryville and Blount County.
    
    
  • Improve roadway safety on the existing roadway network, including the Maryville core.  The alternative should reduce the potential for traffic conflicts that may cause accidents in the Maryville core.  The alternative should divert some through travelers from the downtown area (Washington Street/Hall Road/SR 35), portions of US 129, and portions of SR 73 in the center of Maryville, which could help to reduce the number of crashes and allow those travelers a safer route.
    
• Support of community goals;
  
  
• Ability to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to neighborhoods and businesses, including farmlands; and

• Ability to minimize or mitigate impacts to the natural and cultural environment.

The refinement process also included windshield reviews and reviews of existing data sources including Geographic Information Systems information (GIS) from local, state and federal agencies.  Information collected includes city boundaries, land uses, community facilities, historic resources, wetlands, floodplains, streams, and soils.  During this process, in April 2008, TDOT conducted a field review with resources agencies to examine the potential alternatives and corridors.

The following alternatives/corridors were evaluated during the refinement process:

• No-Build Alternative.  Under the No-Build Alternative, Pellissippi Parkway would not be extendedbeyond its existing terminus at SR 33; however, the No-Build Alternative would include projects in the study area that are identified in the Knoxville Region Long Range Transportation Plan 2005 to 2030 (LRTP). During the public meetings and comment periods for the Pellissippi Parkway Extension, citizens suggested that improvements to existing local roads and highways be considered in addition to or in place of the proposed extension of Pellissippi Parkway.  Many of those suggestions are already identified in the regional LRTP.
  
  
• Public Transit. In response to requests by members of the public to address new or improved public transit system, an alternative to expand public transit services in Blount County has been explored.  The options for public transit included, enhancing the current demand responsive or paratransit service, implementing a fixed route local bus service, bus rapid transit or rail transit.
  
  
• Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM).  A TSM alternative would consist of series of lower cost improvements to maximize the efficiency of the existing roadway.  A TSM alternative for this study would address improvements to SR 33 and SR 35 (Washington Street).  Such improvements might include adding turn lanes in congested areas or intersections, reconfiguring intersections, and improving shoulders.
  
  
• Extend Pellissippi Parkway from SR 33 to SR 73/US 321. The concept of extending Pellissippi Parkway as a new four-lane divided highway is included in the regional Long Range Transportation Plan.   Two 2000-foot wide corridors were identified initially for this study, Corridor A and Corridor B.  These corridors were identified by the public during the public scoping meetings and were included on maps displayed at the October 2007 and February 2008 public meetings.  A third Build corridor, C, has been added since February 2008 in response to public concerns and environmental issues associated with Corridor B.
• Upgrade a network of existing roadways. The alternative concept of upgrading a two-lane network of existing roads to serve as a two-lane connection between SR 33 and US 321 emerged during the course of this study based on discussions with the public about travel needs and environmental concerns.  This upgraded network was seen as a way to improve some of the currently deficient two-lane roads in the study area and provide a more direct connection between SR 33 and US 321 east of Maryville without having a new freeway-type facility.  A route using existing Sam Houston, Peppermint Road, Hitch Road, and Helton Road has been identified.  Under this alternative, now referred to as Corridor D, an improved two-lane roadway would be constructed using the existing roadway alignment where possible, while straightening curves and realigning intersections and using new location to provide a continuous route.

Click here to view the refined alignments and corridors that were evaluated during the Spring of 2008.

Alternatives to be Evaluated in the DEIS
Based on the results of the screening analysis, public input, and resource agency comments and concurrence, TDOT determined that the following alternatives should be dismissed from further consideration because they fail to substantially address the transportation needs and purpose of the project:

• Public Transit
• TSM
• Extend Pellissippi Parkway in Corridor B

The following alternatives will be carried forward, refined  and evaluated in detail in the DEIS:

• No- Build
• Extend Pellissippi Parkway in one of two Build alignments
  • Alternative (formerly Corridor) A
  • Alternative (formerly Corridor) C
• Upgrade 2-Lane Network as Alternative (formerly Corridor) D

Click here to view the alternatives to be evaluated in the DEIS.

For the final set of DEIS alternatives, more detailed technical studies will be conducted in accordance with TDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual.