NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING and
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will host a public hearing for the proposed James White Parkway (SR-71)
extension project in Knox County on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the South-Doyle Middle School
located at 3900 Decatur Road, Knoxville, TN 37920.
This public hearing is being held to discuss the findings of the approved Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and
preliminary Section 4(f) de minimis impact determination for potential impacts to the extreme northern boundary of the City of
Knoxville’s William Hastie Natural Area. The hearing will provide the public an opportunity for input on the project prior to selection
of a preferred alternative and/or completion of the final environmental document. A brief presentation will be followed by a question
and answer period. Representatives from TDOT will be present to address questions pertaining to the project, along with the social,
economic, and environmental impacts associated with it. TDOT will also have representatives available to discuss the steps that
will occur following the completion of the environmental phase of the project; including answering questions on the right-of-way
acquisition process should a build alternative be selected.
Four alternatives were fully evaluated in the DEIS, the No-Build Alternative and three Build Alternatives. The No-Build Alternative
would mean that James White Parkway would not be extended and no other major improvements to existing roadways, including
Chapman Highway, would occur. The No-Build Alternative would represent continuation of the baseline conditions in the area.
Based on traffic projections, traffic congestion issues on Chapman Highway would continue to worsen over time. Each of the
proposed Build Alternatives would result in extending the existing James White Parkway from Moody Avenue/Sevierville Pike
southward approximately five miles to Chapman Highway near Governor John Sevier Highway. This would include construction of
a new four-lane, fully access-controlled facility primarily on new alignment. In addition to the interchanges at the north and south
termini of the project at Moody Avenue and Chapman Highway, one new interchange is proposed at Sevierville Pike near the center
of the project area to provide local access to the new highway. Improvements would also be made to the existing Chapman
Highway/Governor John Sevier Highway Interchange under each Build Alternative.
The extension of James White Parkway would provide improved transportation efficiency and safety in the South Knoxville vicinity
by relieving traffic on Chapman Highway. This new highway is expected to reduce traffic congestion on Chapman Highway by
providing an alternative route for through traffic and daily commuters traveling to and from Downtown Knoxville.
The DEIS was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on September 28, 2012. The DEIS can be viewed online at the
project website www.tdot.state.tn.us/sr71/. Hard copies of the DEIS are available for public inspection at the locations listed below.
Knox County Library-South Knoxville Branch
4500 Chapman Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920
(865) 573-1772
Knox County Library- Lawson McGee
500 W. Church Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865)215-8750
Sevier County Library-Seymour Branch
137 West Macon Lane
Seymour, TN 37865
(865) 573-0728
A copy of the DEIS can also be viewed at the following TDOT Office:
Mr. Dwight Armstrong, Project Manager
Tennessee Department of Transportation
7345 Region Lane
Knoxville, TN 37914
(865) 594-2409
The public is invited to ask questions and make comments during the Public Hearing and will be given the opportunity to make their
opinions known concerning their preferred alternative, concerns regarding Section 4(f) impacts, and any other issues. Anyone with
questions regarding the hearing may contact Mr. Dwight Armstrong at (865) 594-2409 or [email protected].
Persons with a disability, who require aids or services to participate at the meeting, may contact Ms. Margaret Mahler at the
following address no later than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.
Ms. Margaret Mahler
ADA Compliance
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Suite 400, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243
or by email:
[email protected]
615/741-4984 (phone)
615/532-5995 (fax)
615/253-8311 TTY Relay
A court reporter will be available to receive oral statements to be included in the project transcript. In addition, comment sheets are
available for those who prefer to make written statements. Written statements and other exhibits to be included in the project
transcript may be submitted by January 4, 2013 to the following address:
Public Hearing Comments-Attn: James White Parkway DEIS
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Suite 700, James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0332
[email protected]
TDOT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, color, disability or
national origin.