Blog: City Blog

TPO Report: Significantly Fewer Traffic Crashes on Cumberland Avenue Since Streetscape Improvements

The top-to-bottom $25 million public investment in reconstructing a flawed Cumberland Avenue four years ago aimed to stimulate private investment. (It did - worth more than $200 million.) The project also eliminated traffic snarls by adding turn lanes and better traffic light signalization, and it relocated ugly utility lines and greened up the corridor.

But improving safety for motorists and pedestrians was another reason for the public investment - and, ICYMI, a new report shows that Cumberland Avenue is now dramatically safer.

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization last week released new information on traffic crashes involving people walking and bicycling in the Knoxville area:

https://knoxtpo.org/data-and-monitoring/bicycle-pedestrian-crash-analysis/

The TPO report highlights a significant drop in traffic crashes along Cumberland Avenue since the City’s streetscape project was completed in 2017. The report states that the average annual number of crashes involving people walking or bicycling fell 78 percent. Traffic crashes of all types fell 44 percent, according to a separate analysis by the Knoxville Police Department.

Do the "before" and "after" comparison.

Here (below) is what Cumberland Avenue looked like before the streetscape project. Note the white car at the bottom of the photo, precariously turning into oncoming traffic; pedestrians scrambling to cross four traffic lanes, mid-block; and the ugly utility poles and overhead lines.

Cumberland Avenue, before the streetscape project

Cumberland Avenue, before the streetscape project

Compare that to this drone photo, taken shortly after the streetscape project wrapped up in 2017:

Cumberland Avenue in 2017, after the streetscape improvements, traffic light synchronization and construction of turn lanes

Cumberland Avenue in 2017, after the streetscape improvements, traffic light synchronization and construction of turn lanes

Highlights of the streetscape work are included in this City write-up on the project being honored by the American Planning Association in 2018.

Posted by evreeland On 12 February, 2021 at 12:26 PM