henley bridge and downtown knoxville's future

Slide 2: 

Henley Street is a federal highway 6-plus lanes wide in front of the Knoxville Convention Center, a dangerous and effective barrier to pedestrian and bicycle traffic between the UT college area and the redeveloping downtown Knoxville Convention Center Currently about 40,000 vehicles per day travel Henley Street to cross the bridge; Only a fraction is local traffic

Current Major Thoroughfare Artery : 

Current Major Thoroughfare Artery

Current Major Thoroughfare Artery : 

Current Major Thoroughfare Artery

Slide 5: 

Travelers will be directed to Hall of Fame and James White Parkway, to Moody and Chapman Highway

Slide 6: 

Proposed US 441 Proposed US 441 Business Permanently redesignating detour route into a federal highway bypass allows current “business” route to reduce through traffic and enhance local traffic

Slide 7: 

By reducing the speed limit and redirecting through traffic, what has been a barrier for decades becomes a more pleasant, accessible channel for local auto, pedestrian, bicycle, and trolley traffic between major Downtown districts

Commonwealth Avenue Mall : 

Commonwealth Avenue Mall

An Urban Corridor Park : 

An Urban Corridor Park

Slide 12: 

Data extrapolated from TDOT traffic counts from 2004-2007 Justification: Traffic Counts on Broadway/Henley/Chapman

Slide 13: 

More than half of the vehicles using Henley Street today are through traffic; less than half are local traffic Data extrapolated from TDOT traffic counts from 2004-2007 Both of these groups will benefit from the highway redesignation

Slide 14: 

Moody is a City road, but has a right-of-way large enough to accommodate a federal highway

Slide 15: 

Easier access to all Downtown businesses Less congestion for South Knoxville business and residential traffic across Henley Street Bridge to Downtown and back Opportunity for easier pedestrian, trolley, and bicycle access across bridge and into Downtown Retail and restaurant businesses can now develop in South Knoxville along waterfront and Chapman Corridor

Knoxville Downtown ZoningWith Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor Overlay : 

Knoxville Downtown ZoningWith Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor Overlay

Knoxville Downtown ZoningWith Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor Overlay : 

Knoxville Downtown ZoningWith Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor Overlay Downtown can now develop across the river – down the Chapman Corridor and along the South Knoxville Waterfront

Slide 20: 

Chapman Highway improvements were proposed in earlier studies.

Detail from 2006 Chapman Highway Corridor Study : 

Detail from 2006 Chapman Highway Corridor Study

Slide 22: 

South Knoxville Waterfront development will be stimulated by easier access to Downtown

Knoxville South Waterfront DistrictsVision Plan : 

Knoxville South Waterfront DistrictsVision Plan The concept is not new

Slide 24: 

Fewer Traffic Lights Faster, less congested access to Chapman Highway from North Broadway and I-40 via James White Parkway and South Knoxville Bridge Easier, more direct travel for GPS-directed traffic to Seymour, Sevier County, and points south on US-441

Slide 25: 

17 signalized intersections on existing route Traffic exiting the interstate on James White Parkway has only 2 stoplight intersections between I-40 and Chapman at Moody

Slide 26: 

Minimal Initial cost to city: signage, restriping for cross walks and bike lanes Eventual enhancements (as feasible): wider sidewalks, center medians for shade trees, benches, and art space Urban retail and restaurants can develop along Henley Boulevard Corridor Convention Center visitors no longer dodge vehicles when crossing to Market Square District

Objections voiced so far: : 

Objections voiced so far: Objection 1 Through traffic will be driven into residential neighborhoods, especially Woodlawn, to find easier or quicker routes to Chapman Response This may be a problem, especially during the bridge closure. Signage and traffic calming measures may be needed to discourage such traffic. North Woodlawn traffic should not be affected after the bridge re-opens. If and when the James White Parkway is extended to John Sevier Highway (earliest projected start on this project is 2019), this issue will resolve itself.

Objections voiced so far: : 

Objections voiced so far: Objection 2 Many retail businesses depend on high levels of traffic, and encouraging only local traffic through this 1.3 mile stretch will decrease customer counts Response There are very few retailers on this stretch, and almost all of them cater to local traffic, not vacationers on their way to Dollywood. Redirecting high-speed through traffic around this area will permit easier access to local traffic and enhance shopping availability to customers and create a more retail-friendly environment to businesses The major businesses are: a funeral home, an industrial bakery, an empty hospital, some doctors’ offices, a dry cleaners, a closed motel, used car lots, a home security service, a sign company, computer repair, an auto parts dealer, an auto repair shop. There’s a record store, and there was a bookstore, but it moved; there are a few national fast-food chain restaurants, and a Shoney’s. Much of the land is open park, and vacant brownfields

Objections voiced so far: : 

Objections voiced so far: Objection 3 Residents along Moody will experience increase in traffic and make the residential aspect of this street less appealing Response Yes, this will happen, beginning in January of 2011, for at least two years. The moderate homes on Moody could change their zoning to commercial, which may increase property values significantly and permit commercial development.

Objections voiced so far: : 

Objections voiced so far: Objection 4 Because governmental engineers have not yet studied the highway redesignation concept in detail, decisions should wait until this is done. Response The choice to improve Knoxville will be made by the government in response to the people’s wishes. The engineers responsible for the studies are capable and will commence the necessary studies when so directed by the government. The sooner Knoxville decides to request the redesignation, the sooner businesses can plan their strategies.

Slide 31: 

The creator of this PowerPoint is not an engineer and has no financial stake in this concept, just a desire to help improve my city. The genesis of this idea derived from a January, 2010 article in MetroPulse, Henley Bridge is Falling Down The redesignation appears to be a low-cost, common-sense method of uniting the areas of Downtown now separated by high-speed through traffic. It will allow beneficial developmental planning in the window given to the city by the bridge closure.

Final Thoughts : 

Final Thoughts Redesignating Highway 441 into Bypass and Business Routes will make travel through Downtown Knoxville easier, faster, and friendlier for residents, tourists and travelers. Downtown can continue its growth and development, less constrained by unnecessary and detrimental traffic corridor barriers Everyone will have more than TWO YEARS to become accustomed to the new routes

Conclusion : 

Conclusion The coming bridge construction is an unrepeatable opportunity to include the South Knoxville Waterfront within Downtown’s growth, and to create a stable, larger, pedestrian-friendly urban center, a showcase for the region

Notes on Presentation : 

Notes on Presentation I have for more than two decades been interested in the positive development of my city, and recognize this moment as critical to allowing our flowering Downtown to expand and unite, to reach the potential we can now achieve. Feedback is welcome; the basic idea is to get a community dialogue under way while we have a window of time. Contact your associates and city officials to discuss this idea. The city government may develop a request to TDOT for redesignation. Post your comments on Facebook or YouTube, or contact me directly at: GWBScott@knology.net

The proposal has been shown to more than seventy community leaders and citizens. Here are some of them: : 

The proposal has been shown to more than seventy community leaders and citizens. Here are some of them: Bob Becker, Councilman Bob Monday Bob Whetsel Brenda Palmer, Councilperson Brent Collier Carol Evans Chris Woodhull, Councilman Chuck Morris Dan Brown, Councilman David Brill David Dewhirst David Hill David Watson Duane Grieve, Councilman Ed Bailey, Councilman Grant Rosenberg Janice Tocher Jeff Welch Joe Bailey, Councilman Joe Hultquist Joe Petre Joe Riley John Hunter Kim Bumpas Laurens Tullock Madeline Rogero Marilyn Roddy , Councilperson Mark Schimmenti Michele Hummel Mike Brown, County Commissioner Mike Cohen Nick Cazana Patrick.Hunt Nick Pavlis, Councilman Sam Hart Wanda Moody Whitney Stanley William Lyons My impression is that in no case was any of these people against the idea, and some were quite enthusiastic. Some were reserved, pending further reflection. After all, it’s a big idea.