At 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, City engineers and Parks and Recreation Department staff will present information and receive comments on four City applications for Transportation Alternative grants.
The meeting will be held at Lakeshore Park Administrative Building located at 5930 Lyons View Pike.
The projects proposed for grant funding include replicating sections of pre-1910 granitoid concrete streets, creating a “complete street” in North Knoxville, and building a key greenway connection in Northwest Knoxville.
Transportation Alternative (TA) grants are federally funded, community-based projects that expand travel choices and enhance the transportation experience by integrating modes and improving the cultural, historic and environmental aspects of transportation infrastructure. TA grants are awarded and managed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and the City of Knoxville would fund a 20 percent match for the construction portion of proposed projects. The grants are competitive; the requests for funding far exceed the available grant money. Applications are due to TDOT by Oct. 3, 2017.
The City of Knoxville plans to complete grant applications for these four proposed projects:
Fort Sanders and Kenyon Street Granitoid Pavement Rehabilitation Projects
Granitoid is an early form of patented concrete street paving intended to meet the requirements of horses and motor vehicles. Several miles were placed in Knoxville before 1910. The only streets where this historic pavement remain are 12th and 13th streets and three blocks of alley in Fort Sanders, and Kenyon Street in Old North Knoxville.
This paving material contributes to the historic character of these neighborhoods. However, more than a century of use has seriously degraded these streets.
One project proposed for funding by this grant, if awarded, would restore approximately 2,430 linear feet, or almost a half-mile, of 12th and 13th streets. Sections of broken and patched granitoid pavement would be replaced with stamped concrete pavement sections using granite aggregate and the pattern specified by the original granitoid paving patent.
A second proposal seeks funding to replace about 880 linear feet (0.17 miles) of granitoid pavement on Kenyon Street with stamped concrete pavement sections.
Greenway project – Western Avenue to Middlebrook Pike
This new section of greenway will connect to a new pedestrian bridge, currently under construction by TDOT, that will span over Western Avenue at Third Creek. The greenway would extend southward from the pedestrian bridge to Middlebrook Pike.
On the north side of the bridge, the City is building a new greenway connection that will connect northward to Victor Ashe Park. The City section of new greenway is projected to be completed by summer 2019.
Woodland Avenue Complete Street
This project would address a gap in the bicycle and pedestrian network by installing new sidewalks and bike lanes extending from the First Creek Greenway (currently under construction) and linking to the existing bike lanes and sidewalk to the west.
The crosswalk adjacent to Fulton High School would be enhanced with a pedestrian refuge and flashing beacons.
Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend the Sept. 21 public meeting should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at
[email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact the City Law Department at 865-215-2050.