KTA discusses microtransit pilot, $1.3 million federal grant uncertainty; no formal actions taken

The Knoxville Transportation Authority met without a quorum and heard updates on a microtransit pilot and related funding, Director Thorne said, while no formal actions were taken.

The microtransit pilot is operating service to three low-income apartment complexes, Director Thorne said. "We were awarded $1,300,000 to provide this service over the next 4 years," Thorne said, but added the funding is discretionary and "we have no update on basically whether or not we're going to receive those funds." Vanderbilt University is the direct recipient of the grant and would reimburse KTA for expenses, Thorne said.

The uncertainty over federal funding is central to the pilot’s next steps. The program team is finalizing technology features that will let riders book trips via smartphone apps and will continue to offer a phone booking option, Thorne said.

Why it matters: the microtransit pilot is positioned as a gap-filling service for parts of Knoxville that fixed-route buses do not serve, and the grant would fund operations for up to four years if the discretionary award is released.

In addition to the microtransit update, Director Thorne told the board that fixed-route ridership is up 20.8 percent over last year — roughly 300,000 rides — and that on-time performance reached 85 percent for February. Staff said they will return next month with one or two very minor route adjustments, including proposed changes to Route 15, ahead of operator bidding in May.

Thorne also told the board that the Federal Transit Administration will schedule its triennial review on-site in May or June. "Every 3 years the Federal Transit Administration audits transit agencies," Thorne said, adding the agency is preparing for that review.

Regional planning and data collection efforts were highlighted by Doug Burton of the Knoxville Transportation Planning Organization. Burton urged participation in the agency’s draft long-range mobility plan at knoxmobility.org and said a virtual public meeting is set for April 8. He also described a statewide household travel survey that will mail 50,000 letters in Knox County as part of data collection for travel forecasting.

Public commenters raised customer-service and accessibility concerns. Patty Vergerio said the system should restore benches removed from stops and improve terminal customer-service staffing. "I want you to bring back the benches that you took away," Vergerio said, adding that the elderly and people with disabilities need more places to sit.

Mary Ellis Richardson, representing Justice Knox, reported that a Justice Knox delegation traveled to Birmingham to observe that city’s microtransit program and invited KTA officials to a Nehemiah Action on April 8 at the Civic Auditorium, where Justice Knox will show a four-minute video about the Birmingham service. "Micro Transit can fill the gaps in our current system," Richardson said, noting Birmingham has expanded its service several times.

There was no quorum for the meeting, and the board did not approve minutes or take formal votes. A motion to adjourn was noted; no vote tally was recorded. The board’s next meeting was announced for April 24.

For follow-up: staff said they will return with the proposed slight route changes and additional updates on the microtransit pilot and grant status.