The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is seeking comments on the state’s new 25-Year Long-Range Transportation Plan. TDOT is asking people across the state to review the draft plan and provide feedback. The plan incorporates input from meetings held statewide over the past 18 months and outlines the vision for achieving a transportation system that offers people more choices, helps reduce congestion and develops key corridors across the state.

The Long-Range Transportation Plan has three outcomes. The 25-year vision describes what type of transportation system Tennessee will have in the future and provides policy direction for investments and operating decisions. The 10-year strategic investments program identifies programs that should be accelerated to achieve the vision. A project evaluation system will help guide the selection of the three-year program of transportation projects presented to the legislature each year.

“The 25-Year Long-Range Transportation Plan helps prepare Tennessee’s transportation system to serve a growing population and changing economy,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “More than 500 community leaders and thousands of concerned citizens have made contributions to the plan’s development.”

A critical part of this plan is the 10-Year Strategic Investments Program which highlights: congestion relief, choices and corridors.

• Congestion relief: The plan calls for new initiatives to reduce congestion on rural and urban interstates and highways by improving the most congested roads and making smarter use of our existing system. Intelligent Transportation Systems and Travel Demand Management programs can help reduce congestion by providing timely information on road conditions and travel options.

• Choices: The plan also calls for developing additional transportation choices through new or expanded partnerships with local and federal agencies responsible for public transit, bicycle networks and pedestrian facilities. This includes working with local governments to fund the “Safe Routes to School” program.

• Corridors: Under the 10-Year Strategic Investments Program, the state will make improvements in key corridors to help move people and freight faster. In addition to highway improvements, corridor investments will be made in rail, waterways and public transit.

After 30 days, TDOT officials will review the comments and suggestions for possible inclusion in the plan. The final version will then be made available to the public.

For the first time, this plan looks at all modes of transportation and how they can work more efficiently together to meet the growing transportation needs in Tennessee. The plan will be updated every four to five years to reflect changes in the state.

For more information, visit www.tennessee.gov/tdot.

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