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Article published Jun 30, 2008 Expand bus service beyond Knox, citizens say
From Staff Reports
Expanding transit service beyond Knoxville was among the suggestions from about 100 citizens attending recent workshops on transportation alternatives.
With few exceptions, there is no bus service outside the Knoxville city limits. Also, the current service doesn't allow people working a 12-hour shift the option of using transit, participants said.
"What would happen if we invested $1 billion in public transit instead of in roads and highways?" a participant asked.
The Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) recently held nine public workshops in five counties, including Blount, over two weeks with more than 100 people attending.
"The response to the presentation and informal discussions was quite positive, and we gathered valuable feedback." said a news release updating TPO's Mobility Plan. Many of the attendees wanted to discuss alternatives to driving alone in a car, especially walking, bicycling, bus and rail facilities. Planners heard suggestions for expanding these infrastructure and services at each workshop.
Many participants recognized land-use decisions and their impacts on the transportation system as an essential component of any future plan. Some expressed dissatisfaction with the present development patterns in the Knoxville region.
Here is a representative selection of other comments from workshop attendees:
Sidewalks are needed to connect students to schools, neighborhoods to transit stops, and people to places.
The greenway system is an asset, and people want more connections that would allow the system to be used for transportation purposes, not just recreation.
Plans, like the Hunter Interests Growth Study for Blount County, should be followed.
Private businesses and developers should invest in infrastructure needs like sidewalks and transit services and amenities.
Our aging population has transportation needs that aren't currently addressed; if car keys are taken away, people don't have other transportation options.
Most local trips are less than one mile and are the perfect candidates for walking, bicycling or transit. But, "I can't get safely to a bus stop, and my children can't walk safely to school."
We'd love to have rail as an option to get around the region.
Existing commercial areas should be redeveloped into walkable and transit-friendly districts.
The land use plans and transportation plans should be linked together. Form-based codes can help change current land-use patterns by mixing the uses.
We need more compact development to support more retail choices closer to home.
Our development pattern everywhere, whether in the city or the county, is based on a suburban lifestyle. This is not what everyone wants and leads to sameness and sprawl.