Volume 8, Issue 3 — Spring 2008
Visions Lay Groundwork for Mobility Plan
The upcoming 2035 Regional Mobility Plan is not about roads or cars. It’s about developing goals and priorities to help our region realize a vision of connected and sustainable communities with a variety of mobility choices. The long-range transportation plan, or Mobility Plan, is the most significant project the TPO undertakes. This plan features long- and short-term strategies to create an integrated transportation system that moves people and goods while addressing several modes of transportation including motorized vehicles, bicycling, walking, transit, air and rail. Visioning is not new to planning, and the Knoxville Regional TPO will rely on a number of past visioning efforts to develop the new long-range Mobility Plan. A vision is often the first step in tackling a large problem with long-term solutions. Remarkably, several recent vision plans that have been developed all seem to be looking in the same direction. The most notable effort, Nine Counties. One Vision., in 2000 defined a number of regional aspirations and included specific, related goals in categories such as transportation, growth management and the environment. Nine Counties. One Vision. sees a transportation system in the future where, “Every corner of our region is connected by a transportation system that is efficient, reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly.” This strategic planning effort also includes a Growth Management Vision of “A region that balances well-planned growth while preserving its rural and agricultural heritage.” |
Regional Mobility Plan 2035 All meetings begin at 6 p.m. and should last an hour. Knox County City-County Bldg Halls Public Library Cedar Bluff Public Library Burlington Public Library Loudon County Blount County Anderson County Sevier County |
Combined, these ideals start to create a holistic, regional outlook that is echoed in other efforts including the Environmental Health Action Team in Blount County in 2007, the Plain Talk on Quality Growth conference organized by the Friends of Quality Growth in 2007, the Blount County Growth Strategy in 2005, the Regional Transportation Alternatives Plan in 2004 and a variety of other local and county-wide comprehensive plans.
It soon becomes apparent that the status quo will not lead the Knoxville region to its vision. Change is required and the groundwork from numerous voices in the community is already pointing the TPO to explore new directions.
Although these existing visions will serve as the basis for the Mobility Plan, public involvement will still be key to the process. Their participation ensures that the plan still directs transportation decisions in the direction the public would like to see for the region.
TPO will hold a series of public meetings to present the region’s visions and goals for the 2035 Mobility Plan and hear public response and opinions. A survey and comment form that will be used as part of the planning process is already available online.