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Knoxville TPO previews draft 2026–29 TIP; public comment and conformity review underway
Summary
TPO staff presented the draft 2026–29 Transportation Improvement Program, noting more than $1 billion programmed across TDOT and local projects, air‑quality conformity relying on Mobility Plan 2050 analyses, and a public comment period running through mid‑October.
TPO staff presented a near‑final draft of the 2026–29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at the Sept. 24 executive board meeting and said the plan is out for federal and public review.
Why it matters: The TIP programs federally funded projects for fiscal years 2026–29 and must meet fiscal constraint and air‑quality conformity requirements before being adopted and used to obligate funds.
Overview and scale: Craig (TPO staff) told the board the draft TIP programs in excess of $1 billion in investments across fiscal years 2026–29. The draft lists 32 individually listed projects (27 local agency projects and 5 TDOT projects) while many other projects are grouped into program groupings. The draft includes four local project groupings and three TDOT groupings; the bike-and‑pedestrian grouping contains about 18 greenway projects, and travel/congestion/clean air groupings include ITS and signal improvements.
Program shares and project types: Staff reported TDOT projects comprise roughly 69% of the program dollar value, local agency projects about 26% and public transportation about 5.3%. By project type staff characterized approximately 50% of the program as roadway preservation/road widening, with 19% shown as new road projects and smaller shares for bike and pedestrian, operations, safety and transit investments.
Air‑quality conformity and schedule: Mike (TPO staff) explained the conformity analysis is included in the TIP appendix and that the TPO used a short conformity approach by relying on the emissions analysis carried forward from Mobility Plan 2050 (adopted in April). The TIP is concurrently in federal review (Federal Highway began review Sept. 25) and the public comment period is open through Oct. 14; final recommendation and adoption are scheduled for the TPO’s October meetings, with federal acknowledgment/next steps expected in Q1 of the following calendar year.
Fiscal constraint and reserves: Staff said the region has conservative reserve balances in its L‑STBG program, which provides capacity to respond to cost overruns or a mid‑cycle project call if needed.
Next steps: The draft TIP and conformity documents are posted for public comment; staff will return at the October meetings with adoption recommendations and members were urged to ensure quorum at next month’s meetings to finalize the TIP.
Ending: No formal board action was required on Sept. 24; staff will continue federal review and the public comment process and return to the board for final adoption in October.
