December 23, 2014 New Section of Third Creek Greenway Open

City of Knoxville:

New Section of Third Creek Greenway Open

December 23, 2014 - A trail-rerouting project to alleviate frequent flooding on a stretch of the City's popular Third Creek Greenway has been completed - welcome news for the hundreds of daily runners, walkers and bicyclists who sometimes have had to endure soggy or muddy treks after a hard rain. The work from August to December never closed the greenway's older route near Tobler Lane in West Knoxville while the new 650-foot-long stretch of asphalt was being laid in a new bed on slightly higher ground.

Another pleasant outcome: The project was completed entirely in-house by City of Knoxville employees, which saved taxpayers about $145,000, compared with the estimate from a private contractor. Peter Gerlach, the City's Construction Manager, determined that the new section of greenway could be designed and built by the City for much less money than it would have cost to pay a contractor - and he was right. The final bill was $80,000 - down from the original private estimate of $225,000. "It was a great project to work on," Gerlach said. "Because we did everything in-house, we had several crews working on various aspects of the job. Russ Richard and Rusty Matthews from the Engineering Department surveyed the site; Mark Wagner and I designed the culvert; Mark Jenks built the culvert; and Ed Warren and Dwayne Miley and his crew prepped the ground and laid the asphalt. "We had people on a daily basis stopping to tell us how much they appreciated what we were doing, and I know that really made our employees feel great, knowing they were improving a greenway that's so well-liked by so many people."

One big problem: How to manage water runoff from a 60-inch drainage pipe running underneath the railroad tracks. Wagner, the City's Horticulture Manager, and Gerlach designed a special type of culvert to direct water into the creek. The design, called a high-flow/low-flow culvert, propels water through a continually narrowing pathway, resulting in a self-cleaning design. With the greenway shifting to higher ground, City crews will no longer have to clean up the mess left behind after heavy rains - another efficiency that allows Public Service Department staff to focus on other problem areas. During peak summer months, an estimated 2,500 people a week use the Tobler Lane section of Third Creek Greenway, according to Joe Walsh, the City's Parks and Recreation Director. "We've gotten complaints about the mud and flood debris on this section of Third Creek for years," Walsh said. "Third Creek is a very popular greenway, and we know that people who regularly bike, walk or run this trail will notice the improvements the first time there's a heavy rain - and they're no longer having to contend with the mud and silt that had regularly been washing onto the trail."

Why bike lanes are battle lines for justice | Grist

Why bike lanes are battle lines for justice | Grist:

Norman and nine other bike equity advocates are part of a new report on bicycle equity, released by PeopleForBikes and the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The reports —  a bicycling participation report and an “idea book” for building equity in urban areas — use statistics and personal stories to show that poor communities and communities of color use bikes the most, but have some of the worst infrastructure around.

Williams Creek Consortium Founder Rick Roach Strives to Clean Up Knox County’s Most Polluted Creek - Story

Williams Creek Consortium Founder Rick Roach Strives to Clean Up Knox County’s Most Polluted Creek - Story: City Greenways director Donna Young has big plans for connecting the area to her existing 41 miles of greenways.



Piece from 2010 mentions expansion of Williams Creek greenway system.

Rental Bikes are Here! | The Daily Pulse

Rental Bikes are Here! | The Daily Pulse:

The maps given to renters will include routes to Tyson Park, the University of Tennessee Greenways, World’s Fair Park, and a loop around downtown. Evans said these options will give people the option of riding only on the greenways, or around downtown, if they’re comfortable with that. There are no plans to include tips for safe riding in traffic downtown.

Greenway plan connecting West Knox to Oak Ridge may be rolled out by 2015 � Knoxville News Sentinel

Greenway plan connecting West Knox to Oak Ridge may be rolled out by 2015 � Knoxville News Sentinel:

“A lot of people who live in this part of the city and county commute to Oak Ridge,” Zavisca said, and there already has been interest in a safe route that would all them to bike to work.

Initial response was positive, she said adding that this is the fastest-growing district in Knox County.

That growth potential offers planners an opportunity to partner with residential and business developers to set aside a portion of their property for the greenway, either by donating the land or agreeing to a right-of-way across it.

City asking greenway users to stay clear of Knox Blount greenway construction zone � Knoxville News Sentinel

City asking greenway users to stay clear of Knox Blount greenway construction zone � Knoxville News Sentinel: KNOXVILLE — Knoxville officials are asking hikers, bikers and runners to stay patient and let crews finish the first phase of the city’s Knox Blount Greenway Project.

Construction began a couple months ago and people are being asked to avoid the zone for safety reasons, Kathleen Gibi, Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman, said Friday.

The $1.65 million first phase of the project will build a 1.7 mile stretch the J.E. “Buck” Karnes Bridget to the south side of Marine Park.

Once completed, the project will create a greenway network connecting an 18-mile stretch connecting downtown Knoxville to downtown Maryville. Other sections of the greenway will be built by Knox and Blount counties and also the state.

“This is a terrific example of joint planning, regional collaboration at its best, where everyone works together to accomplish a shared vision that will really serve the residents of Knox and Blount counties,” Joe Walsh, parks and recreation director, said. “Plus, the great views of the river will be something special.”

Two grants from the state Department of Transportation will fund the project. The city is paying a 20 percent match to secured the grants.

The project has been designed in coordination with the University of Tennessee Cherokee Farms Infrastructure Project, the UT Golf Facility Project and the UT Bank Stabilization Project, according to an announcement released Friday.

2014 Neighborhood Bike Ride

The 2013 Neighborhod Bike Ride was cancelled due to rain.

I viewed the 2013 route map and felt a different route might be safer and more fun.

Along with the 6th Avenue Mural, it would highlight several historic center-city neighborhoods.

The route I would like to propose highlights the following features:

• Market Square
• Gay Street
• Old City
• First Creek Greenway
• "Abbey Fields" community supported agriculture
• Parkridge Community / Historic Barber Homes
• 6th Avenue Mural (Installed Summer 2013)
• Old North Knoxville Neighborhood
• Fourth and Gill Neighborhood
• Emory Place Neighborhood
• Gay Street Streetscape

My preferred route avoids a hilly and uninteresting climb on McCalla east of Barley's Taproom, avoids a climb at Winona and Magnolia, and takes bikers past points of interest including the Cansler YMCA and KAT garage, First Creek Greenway, and new "Abbey Fields Community Supported Agriculture Farm."

My preferred route also bypasses Olive Street, which has a slight dip unattractive to cyclists. My route also goes under I-40, highlighting the new 6th Avenue Mural Project.

Importantly, this route avoids crossing Hall of Fame Drive, particularly at Hall of Fame and Fourth Avenue, which is essentially a "blind" approach for drivers headed South on Hall of Fame. This direction also highlights Old North Knoxville.

Rather than follow Sixth Avenue, it is possible to take the Greenway; however my route as mapped follows Sixth Avenue prior to returning on Grainger North Fourth Avenue to Glenwood past Brownlow Elementary, and cruising down Luttrell towards Fourth Avenue and Emory Place before returning on Gay.

The difference in these two potential routes is less than one mile. Overall difference in gain is about 25 feet (207 - 174), The most significant gain is on Glenwood between Fourth and Luttrell (917 feet at 3.51 mi to 958 feet at 3.63 miles or a change of 41 feet in .12 miles, a 6.4% grade.  This is actually not the steepest segment - the most significant grade is the climb from Gay and Magnolia back to Market Square.

Overall, the route I have outlined is slightly longer, but with more points of interest and greater safety.

View 2013 Neighborhood Bike Ride in a larger map

Proposed 2013 Route.  4.64 miles.  Gain: 174 Feet

View Proposed 2014 Neighborhood Bike Ride (T. Jessel) in a larger map

Proposed 2014 Bike Ride.  5.3 Miles. Gain 207 Feet.