Knoxville I-475 Beltway Documents, Maps, and Photos

SR-475 Beltway Reference Site

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Toll Road Issues

TDOT Map of Proposed SR-475 Tollway

156 KB JPEG

CABOL Visualization of Proposed SR-475 Toll Booth at Marietta Church Rd. in Hardin Valley (Looking East)

137 KB JPEG

TDOT Toll Feasibility Report by WilburSmith Assoc.

1.55 MB PDF

This draft report looks at traffic, potential revenue, costs, and financing concepts for tollways in Tennessee.

TDOT's presentation to the Knox Area Chamber Partnership

Online Presentation

Ed Cole of TDOT (Director of Planning and Environment) updates the business community on the Parkway and proposes an option that it be a toll road.

State Senator McNally Letter to Burkhalter 6/12/07

104 KB PDF

"The [Tollway] bill, as amended, would only allow the Tennessee Department of Transportation to do a study on two toll road projects. We did receive assurances in committee that one would not be the orange route. In addition, the legislature would have to approve any toll road project."

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 597
SENATE BILL NO. 1152

"Tennessee Tollway Act"

192 KB PDF

It is the intent of the general assembly to supplement this title by authorizing tolling as an additional and alternative method for funding or financing the development and operation of highways and appurtenant facilities or other transportation-related facilities.

Turning Asphalt Into Gold

Selling the Roads Out From Under Us: Tapped-Out Governments Grab for Cash.

COLUMN BY PATRICK BEDARD
Nov. 2007 Car & Driver Magazine

The city of Chicago, in 2004, really did sell its famed Chicago Skyway Bridge connecting the Dan Ryan Expressway to the Indiana East-West Toll Road. The price was $1.83 billion. Two years later, the state of Indiana sold the Toll Road for $3.85 billion.

Americans for a Strong National Highway Network

Highway Users Form Coalition to Oppose Privatization of Toll Roads

Group Says Government Must Be Held Accountable for Financing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The American Trucking Associations, in conjunction with the American Automobile Association, the American Highway Users Alliance, the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association today announced the formation of a coalition of highway user groups to combat the growing trend toward the privatization or leasing of existing toll facilities to private investors.

CABOL's Burkhalter Comments on the Toll Road Proposal

80 KB PDF

"...It's a dangerous and ill-conceived route that traverses four valleys, which according to a nationally recognized expert, will tend to trap vehicular pollution, creating a new corridor of increased cancer, asthma and other adverse risks. In particular, the 11,000 students who attend schools along the Orange Route will be placed in the zone of danger if TDOT gets its way."

CABOL's Fairstein and Shaw's Questions to TDOT about Tollways, and TDOT's Response

184 KB PDF

"The Tennessee Department of Transportation has been asked to comment on correspondence sent to the Executive Board on May 23rd, 2007, by Mr. John Fairstein regarding potential legislation on toll roads and possible impacts on the proposed SR-475 Knoxville Parkway. I am happy to provide such comments on behalf of the Department. The comments are organized around the five questions asked directly by Mr. Fairstein and the additional eight questions asked by Mr. Robert Shaw as included in Mr. Fairstein's letter."

Toll System Feasibility Study Peer Review

(Link to TDOT Website)

As part of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Toll System Feasibility Study, WilburSmith Associates reviewed toll agencies around the United States to evaluate existing and potential administrative structures for implementing and managing a toll system within the State of Tennessee.

Environmental and Health Issues

Knoxville ranks #7 in Sprawl WebMD article on sprawl and health issues. 56 KB PDF	Knoxville #1 in Asthma A study from the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America ranks Knoxville in the top 10.
EPA Addresses More Beltway Problems in Letters to Congressman Duncan and TDOT 1 MB PDF "Projects that result in air toxics emissions and particulate matter from mobile sources, particularly diesel exhaust, pose heightened concerns for human health. Once the SDEIS is released, our staff will review this document to determine the extent to which it adequately discloses potential air toxics emission impacts and approaches to mitigate these impacts for each alternative, including the proposed "Orange Route." In addition, air quality in the Knoxville area does not meet national standards for fine particulate matter. As a result, TDOT and FHWA must follow an inleragency consultative process that includes review and analysis of project impacts to ensure that new air quality violations are not created."	Environmental Consultant Quarles Report (800 KB PDF) CABOL Press Release About O-Route Health Hazards 60 KB PDF The East Tennessee Region was found to have one of the highest incidences of low level inversions, and one of the lowest average wind speeds in the country. These facts, combined with the Orange Route's location through a series of valleys, and the high numbers of vehicles and heavy duty diesel trucks expected to use the Orange Route, means that high concentrations of air pollutants will occur and significant impacts to human health will result from the Orange Route parkway project. These impacts have not been accurately quantified by the TDOT using EPA-approved dispersion modeling techniques.
Tennessee Environmental Procedures Manual (Links to TDOT Website) The Tennessee Environmental Procedures Manual (TEPM or manual) provides guidance for the preparation of environmental analysis and documentation for federally-funded and state-funded transportation projects. Projects that are funded in whole or in part with federal funds or have major federal actions must follow the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, widely known as NEPA, as well as related federal and state environmental regulations. Certain state-funded transportation projects undertaken by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) or by local governments for TDOT are subject to a state-level environmental evaluation, the Tennessee Environmental Evaluation Report (TEER).	Map Showing Sinkholes and Caves with Beltway Overlay 465 KB JPEG Map Showing Sinkholes and Caves in all of Tennessee (no Beltway overlay) 640 KB PDF The proposed Knoxville Parkway (Orange Route) cuts across Karst terrain full of sinkholes and caves. In May of 2007, a huge sinkhole opened up directly under the southbound lanes of SR-162 (Pellissippi Parkway) very close to where the proposed Parkway would run. These maps show the geographic distribution of sinkholes and caves.
Sierra Club: Highway Health Hazards This report summarizes more than 24 peer-reviewed studies that document health hazards caused by pollution from cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It also describes current debates over major highway projects occurring in more than ten communities around the country.	Heavy-Duty Diesel PM and Toxic Emissions Health Effects at the Watt Road Environmental Laboratory (950 KB PDF) DOE sponsored report on air pollution and health impacts at the Watt Road truck stop interchange. "The Watt Road Environmental Laboratory (WREL) is an active, real-world laboratory devoted to (1) the study of actual in-use emissions of heavy trucks and (2) defining their impact on local air quality and thereby on human health. "
Reevaluating The Role Of Highway Expansion For Improving Urban Transportation This report investigates claims that highway capacity expansion is a cost effective and desirable solution to urban traffic congestion problems. It identifies errors in proponents’ analysis that overestimate the congestion reduction impacts and economic benefits of roadway capacity expansion, overlook negative impacts of induced travel, and ignore more cost effective alternatives.	Knox TPO Report on Air Quality Problems In 2004, the EPA designated the counties of Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Sevier, and a portion of Cocke within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in non-attainment for ground level ozone. In 2004 , the EPA designated Anderson , Blount, Knox, Loudon, and a portion of Roane County in non-attainment of the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) standard.
Knox Air Quality Board Newsletter Background on EPA air quality non-attainment.	Knox Area Chamber and EPA Chamber's discussion on EPA air quality non-attainment.
Low Average Wind in Knoxville Pollution doesn't clear out of our valleys and basins.	Knox County Air Quality link
Pollution route map	Link to EPA air data site
Forest Fragmentation Cornell article on the impact of forest fragmentation caused by road development and other factors.	Photos of Kingston Pike sprawl
Tennessee Endangered and Threatened Species List of endangered and threatend species including Gray and Indiana bats living in Karns.	TDOT Route 475 (Knoxville Regional Parkway) Tennessee Wildlife Issues 4 MB PDF Parsons Consultant report on Knoxville Parkway related endangered species and wildlife protection practices.

TDOT Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Issues

Link to TDOT DEIS (29.7MB PDF)	EPA Letter to Rep. Duncan re DEIS Issues (1.1 MB PDF)
CABOL full response to TDOT DEIS	Summary of CABOL response to inadequacy of TDOT DEIS
Glatting comments on DEIS	Sulkin comments on DEIS

TDOT

Frank Cagle editorial (104KB PDF)

Thoughtful comments on the Knoxville Beltway and its effects on the community 11/14/03 News-Sentinel editorial.

TDOT Beltway Announcement (332KB PDF)

TDOT Announces Decision on Knoxville Beltway Project 11/13/03.

Former TDOT Commissioner Saltsman letter (176KB PDF)

Letter to citizen states Beltway will not eliminate traffic congestion on I40/I75.

Comptroller's Report on TDOT (891KB PDF)

Tennessee State Comptroller's Office highly critical report on TDOT.

Knoxville #8 in Sprawl

Smart growth America ranks Knoxville, TN as #8 in the nation in sprawl based on a number of objective factors.

UT Listening Report (132KB PDF)

UT Center for Transportation report on I-475 Knoxville Beltway strays from its objective

TDOT Budget

Tennessee Education Budget

Context Sensitive Solutions

Washington State DOT Building Projects That Build Communities, Recommended Best Practices	Federal Highway Administration Context Sensitive Design Site
Kentucky's Paris Pike An example of context sensitive highway design.	Knox TPO selects CS Resource Team Knox News Sentinel article about the Beltway Context Sensitive Resource Team

Planning Links

Knox Mobility Plan TPO held a series of public workshops in Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon and Sevier counties in May and June to gather citizen input for the Mobility Plan. (CABOL Note: Survey results show new roads are the lowest priority.)	I-40 Corridor Plan Interstate 40/Interstate 81 (I-40/I-81) Corridor from Bristol to Memphis was identified through the statewide planning effort as a strategic statewide corridor. (CABOL Note: The Orange Route SR-475 Beltway/Parkway did not make the long range plan cost/benefit cut. Freight/Rail had the best cost/benefit impact.
Knox Growth Plan TN PC 1101 mandated 20 year growth plan for Knoxville, Knox County and Farragut, TN	The Asphalt Rebellion Addressing quality of life and transportation decisions
Habitat fragmentation, infrastructure and ecological engineering	Sprawl Watch Best Practices
Danish Beautiful Highways Handbook (2.5MB PDF)	Cyburbia Urban Planning Portal
Urban Futures: Tennessee Policies	Knox-Farragut Growth Plan Map

Photos

I-475 Beltway Pollution route map	Beaver Creek + Beltway Satellite Map
Aerial Photo of Hardin Valley	Aerial photo of Heiskell
Scenic photos of Hardin Valley	Hardin Valley community photos

Toll Road Issues	Environment & Health	TDOT Environmental Impact Statement
TDOT Issues	Context Sensitive Solutions	Planning Links
	Photos

TDOT Map of Proposed SR-475 Tollway 156 KB JPEG	CABOL Visualization of Proposed SR-475 Toll Booth at Marietta Church Rd. in Hardin Valley (Looking East) 137 KB JPEG
TDOT Toll Feasibility Report by WilburSmith Assoc. 1.55 MB PDF This draft report looks at traffic, potential revenue, costs, and financing concepts for tollways in Tennessee.	TDOT's presentation to the Knox Area Chamber Partnership Online Presentation Ed Cole of TDOT (Director of Planning and Environment) updates the business community on the Parkway and proposes an option that it be a toll road.
State Senator McNally Letter to Burkhalter 6/12/07 104 KB PDF "The [Tollway] bill, as amended, would only allow the Tennessee Department of Transportation to do a study on two toll road projects. We did receive assurances in committee that one would not be the orange route. In addition, the legislature would have to approve any toll road project."	PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 597 SENATE BILL NO. 1152 "Tennessee Tollway Act" 192 KB PDF It is the intent of the general assembly to supplement this title by authorizing tolling as an additional and alternative method for funding or financing the development and operation of highways and appurtenant facilities or other transportation-related facilities.
Turning Asphalt Into Gold Selling the Roads Out From Under Us: Tapped-Out Governments Grab for Cash. COLUMN BY PATRICK BEDARD Nov. 2007 Car & Driver Magazine The city of Chicago, in 2004, really did sell its famed Chicago Skyway Bridge connecting the Dan Ryan Expressway to the Indiana East-West Toll Road. The price was $1.83 billion. Two years later, the state of Indiana sold the Toll Road for $3.85 billion.	Americans for a Strong National Highway Network Highway Users Form Coalition to Oppose Privatization of Toll Roads Group Says Government Must Be Held Accountable for Financing WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The American Trucking Associations, in conjunction with the American Automobile Association, the American Highway Users Alliance, the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association today announced the formation of a coalition of highway user groups to combat the growing trend toward the privatization or leasing of existing toll facilities to private investors.
CABOL's Burkhalter Comments on the Toll Road Proposal 80 KB PDF "...It's a dangerous and ill-conceived route that traverses four valleys, which according to a nationally recognized expert, will tend to trap vehicular pollution, creating a new corridor of increased cancer, asthma and other adverse risks. In particular, the 11,000 students who attend schools along the Orange Route will be placed in the zone of danger if TDOT gets its way."	CABOL's Fairstein and Shaw's Questions to TDOT about Tollways, and TDOT's Response 184 KB PDF "The Tennessee Department of Transportation has been asked to comment on correspondence sent to the Executive Board on May 23rd, 2007, by Mr. John Fairstein regarding potential legislation on toll roads and possible impacts on the proposed SR-475 Knoxville Parkway. I am happy to provide such comments on behalf of the Department. The comments are organized around the five questions asked directly by Mr. Fairstein and the additional eight questions asked by Mr. Robert Shaw as included in Mr. Fairstein's letter."
Toll System Feasibility Study Peer Review (Link to TDOT Website) As part of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Toll System Feasibility Study, WilburSmith Associates reviewed toll agencies around the United States to evaluate existing and potential administrative structures for implementing and managing a toll system within the State of Tennessee.