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Pellissippi Parkway extension receives $10 million STBG allocation; committee approves TIP modification
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Summary
The technical committee approved a $10 million Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) allocation to advance right-of-way for the long-studied Pellissippi Parkway extension, with TDOT estimating a $40 million right-of-way phase and $350 million total project cost.
The TPO technical committee on Sept. 9 approved programming $10 million in STBG funds to accelerate the right-of-way phase of the Pellissippi Parkway extension, a long-standing regional project that local leaders and TDOT are moving forward through the Statewide Partnership Program (SPP).
Craig (presenter) described this as the first SPP-funded project in the TPO area for the current round. He said the current programmed right-of-way amount was $29.8 million; a recent TDOT estimate raised that right-of-way cost to approximately $40 million. The total project estimate was presented as roughly $350 million. The $10 million requested from the TPO STBG balance would be programmed as a modification to the current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and carried forward into the draft TIP so TDOT can obligate funds for right-of-way as soon as the department completes the required contract paperwork.
According to the presentation and discussion, local partners coordinated to identify the funding within regional STBG resources; Craig said that previous STBG project removals or deprogramming freed about $19 million in federal STBG that helped accommodate the request. City of Maryville representatives (Kevin Soltenberg was present) and TDOT (Troy Everett spoke later) described next steps: property surveys have identified about 110 tracts affected; geotechnical investigations are underway; right-of-way acquisition was estimated to take roughly three years; the right-of-way phase is being advanced without changing the currently planned construction year (construction remains in the latter decade per the project schedule).
Committee members asked for clarification on phasing and schedule. Craig said approving the STBG allocation would allow a TIP modification and programming in the draft TIP so TDOT can move forward on right-of-way acquisition when ready. A motion to approve the funding allocation and TIP modification passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The Pellissippi Parkway extension is a major regional connector intended to relieve congestion on the I-40/I-75 corridors; advancing right-of-way preserves options and avoids losing needed parcels to development. Approving the STBG allocation moves the project from planning toward active right-of-way acquisition.
Next steps: TDOT will complete the contract that confirms placeholder figures, finalize geotechnical work and begin right-of-way acquisition as resources and approvals allow.
