Addressing Transportation Inequities in Knoxville, Tennessee Through Reconnecting Communities

Abstract: This work explores efforts undertaken as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to build sustainable and equitable transportation in Knoxville, Tennessee. Transportation inequities have long been a critical issue in urban planning, disproportionately affecting low-income and minoritized communities. In Knoxville, urban renewal/removal and construction related to I-40 and the James White Parkway displaced more than 2,500 families and bisected African American neighborhoods. The Reconnecting Communities program seeks to repair the damage caused by historic infrastructure decisions, particularly highways that divided neighborhoods. This program is subject to the Justice40 initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy reach disadvantaged communities, and offers a framework for addressing these inequities. This research will focus on how Knoxville plans to implement these directives and improve community-engaged transportation and urban planning solutions. This research examines how Knoxville is incorporating these federal directives into local planning efforts, focusing on sustainable transportation solutions, including expanding public transit, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly urban design. This research explores Knoxville’s ambitions to “begin the restoration of cultural and economic opportunity to communities impacted by urban renewal initiatives” and whether or how the city can repair a historical and social landscape to serve residents of impacted neighborhoods today.