Transportation and Mobility Subcommitte
Meeting 1: Monday, April 19 (5-7:15 pm)


Summary of Discussion

 

After viewing the presentation, subcommittee members responded with the following general questions and comments regarding information needs, next steps and the group’s potential contributions the study.

Note: For the benefit of those not attending the meeting, I have tried to differentiate the general discussion points and comments from the questions. If we are unable to answer a specific question, we will search for the answer and provide the additional information. I have used bullets for questions/comments and dashes for information that staff will work on in response to questions.

Questions from participants -

  • What is the role of James White Parkway?
  • What is the role of Chapman Highway?
  • Do we need to determine this first?
  • What alternative addresses the fundamental issues best? (See presentation for existing alternatives and fundamental issues)

(At this first meeting, we are discussing the scope, issues, alternatives, questions and tasks to be done, and not focusing on an immediate conclusion)

Staff discussed Level of Service (LOS) - this scale (A- F) defines how well the road operates.

  • Question from participant - What was it (Chapman) designed to carry?

    — Need to better define what traffic volume Chapman Highway can carry (based on LOS).

  • Participant noted that increase in volume of traffic appears to reflect increased growth in Seymour
  • Question from participant - If you are designing a road, what criteria do you follow?

Staff discussed 1) Right of Way constraints that can influence road design, 2) peak hour volume (number of lanes can be based on that) 3) traffic signals also control capacity to a degree

—Participant requested that we check accuracy of traffic counts – would like to have more recent numbers and additional locations for counts to get a better picture? Suggestions from the group are - Stone Road, Moody Avenue, Between Moody and Downtown, Colonial Village (Wal-Mart Traffic), Simpson Road (Knox County), John Sevier, Southbound onto John Sevier (Chapman count)

—Get additional information on LOS to the group.

—Need a Chapman Highway Report Card

—Estimate traffic count in 5 years

Staff discussed Performance Measures and the need to develop criteria for the model based on:

    1. Mobility–LOS / congestion
    2. Accessibility–speed/ease of commute, new areas gaining access, economic growth
    3. Air Quality–Mobile Source Emissions
    4. The model does not currently address land use impacts.
  • Question from participant - When was the attempt at controlled access made? 70’s? Curbs were added to limit driveway turns/ business owners paved over them.

Next steps will include:

  • Look in more detail at terminus points
  • Look in more detail Parallel Roads
  • Additional traffic counts
  • Selecting subcommittee chair and establishing decision making process and rules of order, etc.
  • Creating Decision Tree

Participant suggested criteria for scenarios:

—Maximum Flow through Chapman

—Maximum JWP (?)

—Something in between

(Staff will create a matrix to communicate various impacts based on each scenario)

Other comments

  • Name/Signage is confusing on existing James White Parkway. Change name to South Knox Blvd and empty it into I-40 connector.

 

Meeting summary prepared by Renee Davis, 4-20-04