City seeks input on traffic

Jay FitzFeature

A new project seeks public input to help Knoxville traffic planners find ways to improve safety associated with excessive vehicle speeds on major local roads.

While traffic-calming devices work well on smaller residential streets, they generally are not an option for larger traffic arterial and collector streets — Knoxville’s heavier-volume main roads which don’t qualify for traffic calming through the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program.

City Traffic Engineering has posted a survey here, open through Sunday, Jan. 23, for people who drive the streets as part of their daily commutes. Traffic engineers want to hear about people’s everyday experiences and frustrations in sharing major streets.

What is considered a major street? Click on this plan, prepared by Knoxville-Knox County Planning. Scroll down to the street names (in alphabetical order) and see which ones are Major Collectors. If you do not see a street name on this plan, that means the street is unclassified and is a local street.

Preliminary traffic data analysis has identified some priority roadways, which are highlighted in the survey: Bob Gray Road, Cecil Avenue, Cedar Lane, Central Street, Cherokee Trail, Deane Hill Drive, Fifth Avenue, Gleason Drive, Inskip Road/Bruhin Road, Lonas Drive, Lyons View Pike, Main Street, Morrell Road, Pleasant Ridge Road, Sutherland Avenue, Texas Avenue, Washington Pike and Woodland Avenue.

However, feedback through the survey can be directed toward any roadway in the city, not just the highlighted corridors.

In addition to identifying places where speeding is rampant, respondents also are asked to identify streets where residents have concerns about safety, frequent congestion or bicycle/pedestrian conflicts with vehicles.

Survey responses will help City Engineering to further develop the list of roadways that merit additional detailed vehicle speed and volume studies. At the end of the process, strategies will be developed and recommended to help control excessive vehicle speeds.

Information provided by the city of Knoxville

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