Tennessee Department of Transportation
John Schroer, Commissioner

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

Public Involvement

This Web site, http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/pellissippi/, will be one of the principal means of public involvement and feedback.

Public comments concerning this project can also be submitted to: TDOT.Comments@tn.gov

RECENT MEETINGS

TDOT held an informal an Informal Briefing on Thursday, May 30, 2013. It was held at the Rio Revolution Church in Maryville from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. There were 136 attendees. TDOT shared information regarding potential shifts in the previously selected Preferred Alternative (Alternative A, among others evaluated in the DEIS) near the southern portion. A shift is necessary to avoid an identified environmentally sensitive area.

Comments on the potential shifts should be postmarked by June 15, 2013 (Note: this is a change from the original date of June 10, 2013).

Click here for the announcement flyer on the Community Briefing. (English and Spanish). (pdf)

Click here to view the handout from the Community Briefing (in English) (Powerpoint)
Click here to view the handout from the Community Briefing (en Espanol) (Powerpoint)
Click here to view the presentation from the Community Briefing (in English) (PDF)
Click here to view the presentation from the Community Briefing (en Espanol) (PDF)
Click here to view the comment form made at available at the Community Briefing (PDF)
Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) made available at the Community Briefing (PDF)
Click here to view the map display from the Community Briefing (PDF)

PAST MEETINGS

DEIS Public Hearing
July 20, 2010
Heritage High School
Maryville, TN

View the presentation from the July 20, 2010 Public Hearing. (PDF)
View the July 20, 2010 Public Hearing handout. (PDF)
Click here for a copy of the Public Hearing Transcript.
Click here (Large PDF File, 46 MB) for a copy of the combined public comments received on the DEIS from the public hearing and comment period, which ended August 30, 2010.

Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) are available for public inspection at the following locations:

Public Information Meeting
February 19, 2008
Heritage High School
Maryville, TN

View the presentation from the February 19, 2008 Public Meeting. (PDF)

View the preliminary alternative corridors map presented at February 19, 2008 Public Meeting. (PDF)

View the February 19, 2008 Public Meeting handout. (PDF)

A compilation of the comment forms, letters and emails received by TDOT and the court reporter transcripts from the October 25, 2007 Public Alternatives Workshop and comment period through November 15, 2007 is available for public inspection at the locations listed below. Copies of the public comments regarding the project that were received between July 6 and December 31, 2006 are also available at these locations:

Blount County Chamber of Commerce
201 South Washington Street
Maryville, TN 37804

Blounty County Public Library
508 North Cusick Street
Maryville, TN 37804

Public Alternatives Workshop
October 25, 2007
Maryville, TN

Click here to view the formal presentation from the October 25, 2007 Public Alternatives Workshop.
 
Click here to view the preliminary alternative corridors map presented at October 25, 2007 Public Alternatives Workshop.

Click here to view the October 25, 2007 Public Alternatives Workshop handout.

Coordination Plan for Agency and Public Involvement
Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship requires transportation agencies to work together with natural, cultural, and historic resource agencies to establish realistic timeframes for the environmental review of transportation projects. These agencies then need to work cooperatively to adhere to those timeframes, while they are protecting and enhancing the environment. The efficient and effective coordination of multiple environmental reviews, analyses, and permitting actions is essential to meeting the Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship mandates for highway and transit projects under SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

SAFETEA-LU includes several provisions intended to enhance the consideration of environmental issues and impacts within the transportation planning process and encourage the use of the products from planning in the NEPA process. Developing an effective public involvement program requires a variety of techniques that can meet the needs of a given transportation plan, program, or project. Current Federal statutes and regulations derived largely from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provide general guidelines for locally developed public involvement processes and procedures.

A Coordination Plan for Agency and Public Involvement for the Pellissippi Parkway Extension is listed below:

Coordination Plan for Agency and Public Involvement (PDF)

Notice of Intent
A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2006.

View Notice of Intent published in Federal Register, April 25, 2006 (PDF)

Public Scoping Meetings
Two public scoping meetings were held on June 13, 2006, in Blount County. The purpose of the meetings was to receive input from the public for defining the purpose and need for the project; determining the range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS; and identifying the environmental, social and economic issues and concerns to be addressed in the EIS.

The two meetings shared the same format and information. TDOT representatives were on hand to answer questions concerning the project. The meetings were held at Eagleton Elementary School and Heritage High School. The official transcripts of the meetings are below.

Pellissippi Scoping Comments for April 25, 2006 through July 5, 2006 (PDF)
Please note: These comments do not represent the entirety of public comments received on this project. Comment Forms submitted between June 13, 2006 and July 5, 2006 are retained as public record at the Tennessee Department of Transportation Community Relations Office, Suite 700, James K. Polk Building, 505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Hard copies of these documents are also available for viewing at the Blount County Library and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.