In 2021, City of Knoxville developed a Citywide Sidewalk Study. The study used a proactive approach to identify sidewalk needs in the city by using sidewalk requests from the public coupled with GIS analysis.

The factors used in the GIS analysis to identify projects include Demand, Health and Equity, and Roadway Characteristics.


Some examples of the specific factors used are:

• Demand: Population and employment density, proximity to parks, schools, transit, libraries, hospitals, and employment opportunities.

• Health & Equity: Age (under 18 or over 65), non-white or Latinx communities, households without a vehicle, disability status, obesity rates, and other health factors

• Roadway: Type (arterial, collector and local), crash history


All identified projects were scored based on the above factors and cost estimates were created, and were compiled into project lists for each council district. These project lists will be provided to the City Administration to assist in selecting future sidewalk projects.

The complete Citywide Sidewalk Study is available for review, and an Executive Summary is also available.

New Sidewalk Requests are managed by the Transportation Engineering Division of the City of Knoxville at 865-215-6100.