KTA approves January route changes after Title VI review; staff cites downtown safety and budget trade-offs

The Knoxville Transportation Authority on Dec. 21 approved a package of January 2025 route changes after staff presented the required Title VI analysis and answered commissioners' and public questions.

Yumar Tennessee, planning manager for Knoxville Area Transit, described a series of adjustments intended to improve reliability and downtown connectivity. The changes include a Route 1 downtown connector with extended weekday hours and a revised downtown-only alignment, Route 20 routing that discontinues a Gay Street segment, schedule shifts on Route 22 to :15 and :45 departures, expanded weekday and new Saturday service on Route 23, and restored routing on Routes 40 and 41 to address community requests. Tennessee told the board the agency reduced buses on Route 1 from three to two to free capacity to add service on Route 23.

Pat Downs, chief administrative officer and the agency’s Title VI coordinator, said the Title VI analysis identified Route 1 as a "major service change" because it reduced service approximately 34 percent but concluded there was "no adverse impact on the minority or low income population" based on the agency's established thresholds. Downs acknowledged the analysis relies on methods approved in 2023 and said staff is considering revising the Title VI program to capture more and better data.

Several public commenters and commissioners pressed staff on particular effects and safety trade-offs. Rider Wayne Kokeritz told the board he was "opposed, and disappointed" by the proposed removal of Route 20 from parts of downtown and said many stops would be eliminated. Tennessee said the agency's primary safety concern was bus conflicts on Gay Street where two buses could pass each other in tight areas near the downtown theater; staff said that guided the decision to route Route 1 one-way on Gay Street and remove Route 20 from that alignment. Tennessee said staff "may be able to accommodate" adjustments and agreed to investigate potential modifications, including a possible Summit-to-Hall-of-Fame alignment.

On Route 42 (UT Fort Sanders), staff reiterated the route remains on an emergency detour in effect since Oct. 24 to avoid crashes caused by parked cars on Clinch Street; inbound runs operate on alternate streets but staff said the detour remains on schedule and that they have discussed on-street parking limits with city engineering as an option to restore the prior alignment.

After discussion, Pat Downs moved to approve the slate of route changes and the accompanying Title VI analysis; a commissioner seconded and the board approved the package by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The board directed staff to continue follow-up with city engineering on parking and safety measures, to further analyze stop locations and transfer points raised by commenters, and to report back if additional adjustments to Route 20 are feasible. Staff also noted weekend and Saturday additions and schedule shifts will be reflected in published timetables before implementation.