Bike/Ped Facilities Plan Missed Connection

Hi Jon,

I attended the bike facilities plan meeting last year at the East Tenn. History Center.

I recommend and discussed with the consultants a connection between the Old City and the Riverwalk via Central Avenue.  I suggested a connection to the pedestrian bridge over Neyland at the City County Building, continuing on to Second Creek Greenway at Neyland Drive as a way to provide an alternative connection to UT campus that avoids the more "pedestrian centric" Volunteer Landing and avoids crossing Neyland Drive at all.  The consultant drew the route out on a printed map with a big permanent marker so there was no confusion.

I cited safety, travel time, and scenic value as rationales for this path from the Old City to UT Campus.  Among other reasons improvements are needed at this site: the pedestrian bridge over Neyland is essentially a dead-end for anyone in a wheelchair; ​there's no curb cut, and even if there was, Walnut Street isn't exactly ADA compliant.

I missed the most recent bike ped facilities plan meeting but reviewed the final report at <http://www.cityofknoxville.org/bicycleplan/feb2015_finalreport.pdf>.

The report states "...many new routes/facilities were suggested based on individual personal preference, the following represent comments that were more broadly supported..."

"Broad support" seems an unfortunate criteria, as any unique idea would inherently be dropped from the final report if one person suggested ideas no one else thought of.

Indeed, my suggestion doesn't feature in the final report.  My training in Library Sciences leads me to hope public comments are appropriately preserved and were integral to the report's final recommendations, yet, perhaps not rhetorically, I have to wonder: what's the point of an individual attending public meetings and providing input if that input is not addressed unless it has "broad support?"

Parks and Rec is also neglecting to study a potential Central Avenue connection to Neyland Drive as part of their Greenway Corridor Feasibility Study.

I'm aware Hall of Fame, Willow Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Morningside Park and James White Greenway are all being studied as connections from East and North Knoxville to the Tennessee River and the UT Campus.

While any bike/ped facility is welcome over none, each of these options have inherent limitations impacting safety, speed, and general recreational enjoyment as routes to Volunteer Landing, Downtown, and the University of Tennessee. Given these limitations, an alternative route that increases safety, travel time, and scenic value is clearly needed.  I believe qualitative data sourced from interviews with bike/ped facilities users would support my opinion on this.

Therefore, I would like to propose for consideration a "William Blount Greenway" concept connecting the "dead end" pedestrian bridge at the City-County Building to the Downtown Dog Park, thereby linking the Old City to Volunteer Landing and the rest of the greenway network.

3D Rendering of W. Blount Greenway Concept, Red Line Marks Route from Dog Park to City County Bldg.

The name "William Blount" refers of course the Blount Mansion, which owns a parcel of property that would need to be traversed.  The benefit to William Blount Association seems likely to be increased recognition, visibility, and access created by the proposed greenway.  The greenway would also honor our community's heritage and help communicate the story of Knoxville's pioneer history, a key to heritage tourism and economic development.

Parcel owned by William Blount Association.  Potential for partnership?

I've put together a few sketches in Google Earth and Google Maps I'd like to share with you to illustrate the concept.

Google Earth Satellite Image Overlay with Red Line Indicating Route.  Crosses Central Avenue at Cumberland.

Position of bridge would require Greenway to "Thread" the bridge to pass onto W. Blount Assoc. Property.

William Blount Assoc. would be a Key Partner.  Benefits might include increasing recognition, access, and heritage tourism.

I'd appreciate it if you could consider how this idea might be incorporated into the City of Knoxville's alternative transportation plans including bike/ped facilities and greenway planning.

Thanks,

Tanner