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Article published Mar 9, 2008 Blount Commission commended on open space initiative
For the benefit of short term readers, for at least the past 35 years The Daily Times has supported preservation of open space and historic heritage, construction of the Foothills Parkway and the Pellissippi Parkway, along with adequate roads to serve the needs of the community.
That has not changed.
Some conflicts occasionally occur between the two positions but that does not put this newspaper’s editorial policy at either extreme.
The “southern loop” is not something new. It is not anything set in concrete but the long range concept of a plan approved by local leaders which calls for development of a circular road around Maryville and Alcoa, connecting the spokes (old narrow roads) leading into the two cities. We wrote about it in the 1970s and in the 1980s thoroughly reported the rejection of a plan for what might have been a segment of the southern loop.
That proposal met strong disapproval because it was too close to the center of the cities which made it a duplicate of some existing roads and streets. The rejection of the route would have left driving through downtown Maryville today almost impossible. Gov. Lamar Alexander, concerned about possible creation of a new “malfunction junction” in his hometown, took the initiative which resulted in construction of the Parkway section from Circle Drive at Maryville Municipal Building, between the Courthouse and First Baptist Church by Maryville College to Washington Street. The project disrupted very few and won a national design award.
Despite comments that Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has indicated little benefit from the Parkway Extension, it has made only some preliminary estimates of the effect of the Pellissippi Extension on local traffic. TDOT tells us the consultant is reevaluating all circumstances pertaining to the traffic models. The draft Environmental Impact Statement will address all those issues and will be available in the near future. Regardless of any TDOT estimates, it does not take a genius to know that moving some of the traffic off Sevierville Road and East Lamar Alexander Parkway will take that much traffic off the crowded streets in the two cities. Adding an on ramp on Cusick Road would also be beneficial.
We commend the Blount County Commission on moving to address preservation of open space and scenic views in the county. We wish the effort had come five years earlier. We can preserve some of this open space and scenic views but it will come at a cost which most are willing to pay. We cannot take away normal rights of property owners without compensation and that will cost money. However, it will be a worthwhile investment for both the present and the future. Traffic engineers, who should know, tell us that just putting a white stripe along the edge of a narrow road will normally increase the average speed on that section of road by 10 miles per hour. The security of a wider road has the same effect.
Traffic lights in Alcoa and Maryville are coordinated with the most up-to-date computerization, including trip wires, that adjusts to the traffic flow. They are greatly improved from earlier years. Part of the traffic problem, particularly in downtown Maryville, is the short blocks which allow almost no room between the need for a light change. Little can be done to improve traffic flow with additional changes in traffic lights.
It is very obvious that many people have come here and the area has been developed and urban sprawl added without adequate roads. Much of the county’s most scenic view looking toward Chilhowee Mountain and the Smokies is from Sevierville Road, an area that has in recent years become cluttered with urban sprawl in new subdivisions along that road, Davis Ford Road and adjoining roads and streets.
Pellissippi Parkway is a limited access road and access will be allowed only at the major intersections, so it isn’t apt to become a Pigeon Forge. However, the county can allow frontage roads that parallel the parkway that would allow development. Blount County population has more than doubled in the past 50 years, largely because of good public schools, beautiful scenery, no state income tax and low property tax rates.
Some who have migrated here would close the door to others. Other new arrivals would change Blount County to be more like the places they left to get away from. Many native residents would like to preserve the scenic beauty, open space, historic heritage and small town community.
No matter our origin or background, we are all in this together and must be considerate of the total needs of the county.
Not everyone will be pleased with any decision but we cannot bury our heads in the sand and think we do not need adequate roads or efforts to preserve our open space. And to have no idea of a possible plan for the future in any of the areas would be totally irresponsible for the community and its leadership.