By Mike Steely

Senior Writer

steelym@knoxfocus.com

The Knoxville Transit Authority met recently and heard a report by Belinda Woodiel Brill, Knoxville Area Transit’s planning and public information director. Brill told the members that they are looking at an upcoming “comprehensive analysis” of the city’s bus and trolley service.

Brill said the study will look at how far passengers walk to catch a bus, where riders are getting off and take a “holistic look” at how passengers can be better served. She said the study and survey will focus on “extensive public engagement.”

The study will wrap up in July and may include looking at broader service to the region. A consultant team is being brought in and Brill said such a study has not been done since before the transit station opened in 2010.

“It’s definitely time,” Brill said of the new study adding, “Land use continues to evolve.”

She said that Garrett Walker and Associates will lead the study along with Equitable Cities.

She also said that non-users will be included along with online and clipboard surveys, social media partnerships and a strong outreach to Hispanic and other groups.

The KTA named a three-person subcommittee to follow up with Brill on planning the study.

She also reported that bus and trolley service is slowly returning to pre-pandemic hours and that several routes, including Central, Sutherland, Dandridge and Burlington, will return to 30-minute stops and the Green Line Trolley will return to 10-minute stops. Friday and Saturday service will continue to end at 8 p.m. until February.

The KTA board members are Chris Crouch, Jim Richards, Sandy Booher, Lillian Burbano Bonilla, Mark Hairr, Douglas Lawyer, Christi Kirk, Amelia Parker, Kimberly Watkins, Rhonda Thompson and John Lawhorn. The board meets again on January 27.