KAT is proposing changes to the downtown trolley system, to include new service to The Old City, improved route schedule performance, later weekday service and better connections between trolley routes.

KAT is proposing three routes running Monday – Thursday until 8:00 p.m (until 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday) with a central transfer location along Locust Street.

Route 1: UT/University Commons/World’s Fair Park. Frequency: Every 15 minutes.
Includes timing improvements to create a more consistent schedule, along with direct connections along Locust Street with routes serving Gay Street and The Old City, and the Civic Coliseum and east areas.

Route 2: The Old City and Gay Street. Frequency: Every 10 minutes.
Maintains a major downtown loop and includes service to the free parking near The Old City, a posted time schedule and connections to UT and the waterfront trolley routes.

Route 3: Waterfront Connection: Civic Coliseum Garage to downtown and City County Building, returning via Hill Avenue. Frequency: Every 7 minutes weekdays, 15 minutes Saturdays
Maintains high frequency service to connect Civic Coliseum parking to downtown, along with direct connections on to UT for residents east of downtown.

Other improvements proposed:
• Improved information and trolley stop branding at major stops, including map and schedule of routes.
• New enhanced shelter for residents of Summit Towers, as well as enhanced waiting along Hill Avenue for Marriott customers.
• On-sidewalk visual pathways to connect visitors from trolley stops to major destinations such as Krutch Park, the Waterfront, and the Knoxville Museum of Art.

The proposal follows an extensive outreach and input process involving Trolleys on Tap listening sessions downtown as well as an online survey, completed by over 500 individuals.  The comments from each outreach event were summarized on KAT’s blog, along with survey results and current ridership data.  This allowed those who attended to ensure that their comments were recorded, and also allowed those who were unable to participate to be informed of the discussions.  The proposal, as well as all past blog entries, is found at www.knoxvilletn.gov/katblog.

“This has been a huge effort and, while we know we can’t please everyone, we have managed to address the major requests we received while keeping the service budget-neutral,” says Dawn Distler, Director of Transit for The City of Knoxville. “We are hopeful that the new service to The Old City, improved connections between routes and more consistent trolley schedules will make the service even more useful to all who enjoy downtown Knoxville.”

The public is encouraged to comment on the proposal, and the Knoxville Transportation Authority (KTA) will hold a public hearing in January.

Ways to provide input include:
1. E-mail.  Go to www.katbus.com and click on the “Contact us” link.
2. Call KAT at 865-637-3000.
3. Attend one of two public open houses to be held in January:
a. Lawson McGee Library on Friday, January 15th from 9:00 a.m. to noon
b. Knoxville Station Community Room on Thursday, January 21st from 4pm – 6pm
4. Attend the public hearing on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street
5. Send comments by mail to KAT Trolley Plan, 301 Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915.

For more information and to view the proposal, go to www.knoxvilletn.gov/katblog and click on the “Here’s what we’ve got: Proposed Changes” post.

The board will vote on the proposal at their regular meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main Street.  If approved, the changes would take effect on Monday, May 2, 2016.

Click here to view a map of the proposed trolley routes in PDF format.