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Council authorizes design contract for Chapman Highway safety and multimodal improvements
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Summary
Council authorized a design services agreement with Kimley-Horn not to exceed $565,300 for Chapman Highway improvements using Safe Streets for All funding (about 80% federal). Engineering Director Tom Clabo described sidewalks, a 10-ft shared-use path and measures to reduce speeds on a high-injury corridor.
The Knoxville City Council voted to authorize the mayor to execute a professional design-services agreement with Kimley-Horn & Associates for Chapman Highway improvements, not to exceed $565,300. Tom Clabo, the city’s engineering director, told the council the project is part of the Vision Zero action plan and is funded largely through Safe Streets for All grant dollars.
Clabo said the contract will guide conversion of a five-lane vehicle-oriented corridor into a more urban boulevard with pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including a sidewalk on the east side and a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side to separate pedestrians and bikes from traffic. He said the project addresses a high-injury corridor that over the last five years has recorded eight serious crashes or fatalities, five involving pedestrians.
Councilmembers asked about public meetings and funding sources. Clabo confirmed stakeholder meetings and a public meeting will be scheduled and said the work is roughly 80% federal-funded. Councilmember Honeycutt emphasized the value of leveraging city dollars to attract nearly $17.8 million of federal funds for the broader corridor improvements.
The council approved the resolution and will proceed with stakeholder outreach and design steps before final construction decisions.
