Transportation

INCREASE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS

Transportation was identified by residents and service providers as a barrier to education, employment, training, and enrichment opportunities. The steep hills in Western Heights and the highways and industry at the neighborhood’s edges make accessing existing transportation more difficult.

STRATEGY 1

Partner to increase the transportation options for adults and older youth » Expand current offerings to provide additional stops and route options » Explore extending school bus service, adding routes, and offering fare-free rides for Knox

County School students » Involve Western Heights residents in the 2021/2022 Comprehensive Operational

Analysis to determine transit priorities for the neighborhood

STRATEGY 2

Increase options for children to get to school » Increase bus stop frequency and add service streets to reduce the distance students travel to access school buses » Create a safe, well-lit walking path to

Beaumont Magnet Academy to provide safer walking routes to school

STRATEGY 3

Improve walking and biking routes around the neighborhood and to destinations » Build new sidewalks and crosswalks around the park » Explore installing traffic calming devices along existing streets where speeding is a safety issue for residents/pedestrians » Increase bike programs available to Western

Heights residents. One possible pilot project includes a bike path between Fulton High

School and the Western Heights site with bikes available at both ends.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

TARGET METRICS

37% of residents have reliable transportation 100% of residents have reliable transportation 82% of residents have sufficient bicycle parking in the neighborhood 100% of residents have sufficient bicycle parking in the neighborhood 76% of resident have transportation access to get jobs and/or stay employed 100% of resident have transportation access to get jobs and/or stay employed

OUTCOMES

• Residents have transportation to access a full range of quality education, employment, and quality-of-life choices

PARTNERS

• City of Knoxville • Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) • CAC Transit • Knox County Schools Transportation

Department • ETHRA Transit