TPO board approves $100,000 study to close missing section of Knox‑Blount greenway

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization executive board voted Dec. 17 to approve a $100,000 planning study requested by Knox County to evaluate a roughly one‑mile missing link in the Knox‑Blount greenway corridor.

Doug, a TPO staff member, said the study would examine connections between Downtown Knoxville and the Alcoa Highway corridor, including the gap near Lake Crossing Lane and Maloney Road. "So Knox County made a request for $100,000," he said, describing an anticipated funding split of $80,000 in federal planning funds, $5,000 from the Tennessee Department of Transportation as match, and $15,000 from Knox County.

The TPO described the money as coming from a planning fund bucket established in the FY26–27 work program that started Oct. 1; staff said the bucket contained about $575,000 and the approved request would reduce available planning funds to roughly $476,000. The TPO’s technical committee recommended approval.

Board members asked whether other projects were already in the pipeline; Doug said none had been presented at the time and noted the work program covers two years, allowing time for other jurisdictions to seek funds. After questions, an unidentified member moved to approve the amendment and a second was called; the chair put the item to a voice vote and declared the motion carried.

The study will evaluate missing connections, potential right‑of‑way constraints and how a new greenway link could connect neighborhoods, schools and parks, then propose a preferred alternative. The board did not record a roll‑call vote; staff will follow up with project scoping and timelines.