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In November 2003,
the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced that the
James White Parkway extension project was being referred back to the
local government for further review of its purpose, route location and
design features.
TDOT felt that the
City of Knoxville’s Task Force report on the James White Parkway Extension
made it clear that local officials, stakeholders and citizens are prepared
to assist in this review.
The James White
Parkway – Chapman Highway Task Force will simultaneously participate
in a study of the Chapman Highway corridor and the proposed James White
Parkway extension, analyzing the interconnectivity and the effects each
identified alternative will have on the overall transportation network
and the community, including existing businesses.
City of Knoxville
Councilmen Joe Hultquist and Chris Woodhull are serving as Co-Chairs
of the task force. Staff from the Knoxville Regional Transportation
Planning Organization (TPO) and the Metropolitan Planning Commission
(MPC), along with TDOT technical resources, will be available to assist
in the study.
The scope of work
will include:
James White Parkway
Extension: Impacts and Alternatives
- Build Scenario
v. No Build Scenario
- Design / Access
Management Options
- Termination Point
- Transit / Mobility
Options
- Landscape / Aesthetics
/ Context Sensitivity of the Design
- Environmental
Constraints / Conservation Areas
- Economic Development
Impacts
- Infrastructure
Capacity
- Neighborhood
Issues
Chapman Highway:
Improvements
- Design / Access
Management Options
- Safety Issues
- Transit / Mobility
Options
- Landscape / Aesthetics
/ Context Sensitivity of the Design
- Economic Development
Impacts
- Infrastructure
Capacity
- Neighborhood
Issues
- Zoning / Land
Use
Estimated Timeframe
/ Major Milestones:
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March/April
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Begin
Task Force Meetings – Kick-off meeting on Monday, March 15 |
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May
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Develop
Alternative Scenarios/Determine Performance Measures |
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June
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Model
Preferred Alternatives |
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July
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Review
Preliminary Findings, including Performance Measures |
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August
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Evaluate
Alternatives |
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September
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Preliminary
Task Force Draft |
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October
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Review
of document/ Recommendations |
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December
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Complete
Study |
Public workshops
will be scheduled as needed to answer questions, gather input, review
strengths and weaknesses of each alternative, and discuss the preferred
course of action. These workshops will be followed by a period for public
comment.
General Goals
of Study
- Allow business
owners, elected officials and residents of the community to participate
in the process by identifying issues, ideas and alternatives and building
consensus on solutions to the corridor’s problems
- Examine potential
impacts of the proposed James White Parkway extension and selected
alternatives
- Examine and recommend
alternatives that will create a healthy, community-serving business
district along the Chapman Highway corridor
- Identify historic
features and other characteristics that need to be conserved
- Include an economic
development component, including identification of potential redevelopment
areas
- Examine connectivity
on a regional scale
- Identify locations
with high incidence of automobile crashes and conflicts with pedestrians
- Incorporate pedestrian-friendly
urban design recommendations and policy into a corridor that is primarily
auto-oriented
- Develop design
guidelines for certain areas, including access management, landscaping,
setbacks, signage, lighting, parking, bike and pedestrian facilities
- Recommend capital
improvements both for short and long-term phases of development
- Develop a responsibility
matrix that reflects agency assignments for implementation of the
plan’s recommendations
James White Parkway-Chapman
Highway Corridor Study Home
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