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1
East Tennessee South Rural Planning Organization
Study Area Description
Prepared by:
East Tennessee Development District
August 2017
2
Table of Contents
I. Purpose
A. Tennessee’s Rural Planning Organizations
B. Purpose of the ETSRPO Study Area Description
II. General Study Area Description
A. Location
B. Topographic features
C. Land use
D. Major municipalities
E. Recreational facilities and tourism
F. Socioeconomic conditions
III. Population
A. Populations Projections for the ETSRPO
IV. Employment
A. Employment Projections for the ETSRPO
V. Major Traffic Generators
A. Major Traffic Generators in the ETSRPO
VI. Commuting Patterns
A. Commuting Patterns in the ETSRPO
VII. Existing Transportation System
A. Mayor roadway system
B. Freight
C. Railroads
D. Airports
E. Waterways
F. Transit
G. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Appendix
1. ETNRPO Major Environmental Features
2. County Functional Classification Maps
3. County Growth Plans
3
I. Purpose
A. Tennessee’s Rural Planning Organizations
In November of 2005, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) established twelve Rural
Planning Organizations (RPOs) across the state. The purpose of the RPOs is to engage local officials in
multimodal transportation planning through a structured process with a goal of ensuring quality,
competence, and fairness in the transportation decision making process. RPOs review long-term
transportation needs as well as short-term funding priorities and make recommendations to TDOT. These
needs, funding priorities, and recommendations are included in TDOT’s statewide long-range
transportation plan development process to ensure both urban and rural perspectives are reflected in the
resultant plan. The RPOs will consider multimodal transportation needs on a local and regional basis, review
long-term needs as well as short-term funding priorities, and make recommendations to TDOT.
The figure below shows the twelve rural planning areas and eleven metropolitan planning areas across the state.
5
B. Purpose of the ETRPO Study Area Description
The purpose of the East Tennessee South Rural Planning Organization, ETSRPO, Study Area Description is
to provide land use, population, employment, commuting patterns and other information relevant to
existing and future transportation needs in the region. This information can be used as input into future
transportation planning studies for the region.
II. General Study Area Description
A. Location
The ETSRPO is comprised of seven counties, or portions thereof, located generally south of Knoxville, as
shown on the map below. The counties are Blount, Cocke, Jefferson, Loudon, Monroe, Roane and
Sevier counties. Portions of Blount, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties are located in the Knoxville
Transportation Planning Organization rather than the ETSRPO. A portion of Jefferson County is located
in the LAKEWAY Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization.
6
B. Topographic Features
Topographically considered, Tennessee presents eight natural divisions. Two of these divisions are located
in the study area.
The Unaka division, includes the extreme eastern portion of the State and stretches from Virginia to the
Georgia line. It includes the greater portion of the counties of Johnson, Carter, Greene, Sevier, Blount,
Monroe and Polk. The face of the country is exceedingly rough. Many of the mountain peaks rise to the
altitude of from five to six thousand feet. The chains of mountain ridges are cut in numerous places by
deep, rocky channels, through which mountain streams flow to the valley below. Nestling among these
giant Unakas are many coves and valleys.
The second division having distinct topographical features is the Valley of East Tennessee. This division
extends across the State from north to south, being limited on the east by the Unakas and on the west by
the Cumberland Mountains. It is called a valley with reference to these mountain ranges, and, with
outlying coves and valleys, embraces in whole or in part the following counties: Hancock, Hawkins,
Grainger, Union, Jefferson, Knox, Roane, Meigs, Bradley, Hamblen, Carter, Johnson, Washington, Greene,
Sevier, Cocke, Blount, Monroe, Polk, Claiborne, Anderson, Rhea, James, Hamilton, Bledsoe, Sequatchie
and Marion.
The Valley of East Tennessee is a succession of narrow ridges and valleys, of greater or less width, trending
from northeast to southwest. The ridges sometimes rise to the altitude of mountains. The valleys are
traversed by numerous streams. One of the study areas most notable features is the Tennessee River.
Other rivers in the study area include Little Tennessee River, Little River, Tellico River, French Broad River,
Clinch River and Emory River.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the
states of North Carolina and Tennessee. The portion of the park in Tennessee is located within the ETSRPO
in Blount, Cocke and Sevier Counties. Elevations in the park range from approximately 875 feet at the
mouth of Abrams Creek to 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome in Sevier County. Sixteen mountains peaks in
the park exceed 6,000 feet in elevation.
The topography in the study area generally ranges from rolling to mountainous. The mountainous
terrain causes major roadway construction to be difficult and costly.
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Prepared by:Tennessee Department of Transportation
Long Range Planning DivisionData Visualization Office
²ETSRPO STUDY AREA MAP
0 8.5 17 25.5 344.25Miles
French Broad River
Tennessee River
Tennessee River
Clinch River
Little TennesseeRiver
Tellico River
Fort Loudoun River
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er
CatoosaW.M.A
FrozenHeadS.P
Sundquist (W)W.M.A
Oak Ridge W.M.A
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cheroke
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st
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see R.R
South
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Southern R.R
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Southern R.RSouther
n R.R
Southern R.R
Southern R.R
Southern R.R
Interstates
Railroads
o
Airports!. City Points
State Routes
Cumberland Trial
Major WaterwaysParksW.M.A LandsMPO/TPO/MTPO
County BoundaryETSRPO Boundary
8
C. Land Use
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a significant land use in the ETSRPO area with sections of
the park located in the southern and eastern portions of Blount, Sevier and Cocke counties. The
Cherokee National Forest is located adjacent to the southern portion of the Great Smoky Mountain
National Park in Monroe County and the northern portion of the park in Cocke County. The locations of
the park and national forest are shown on the ETSRPO Study Area Map.
One of the study areas most notable features in the region is the Tennessee River. Other rivers in the
study area include Little Tennessee River, Little River, Tellico River, French Broad River, Clinch River and
Emory River. Numerous marinas, restaurants and commercial establishments are located along these
rivers and lakes in the region. These rivers and lakes are shown on the ETSRPO Study Area Map.
The Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee National Forest, rivers, lakes and other attractions support a
significant tourism business in the region. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend and others are
commercial centers in the region built around the tourism and recreational business.
Other commercial activities are generally centered around the various cities and towns in the seven
counties. Some scattered commercial establishments are located along the major roadways in the rural
areas.
Industrial development has occurred in industrial parks and other locations in the region. Industrial
parks in or near the ETSRPO include the following:
Cocke County
o Newport / Cocke County Industrial Park
Jefferson County
o Jefferson County Industrial Park
Loudon County
o Centre 75 Business Park
o Highlands Business Park
o Huntington Business Park
o Matlock Bend Industrial Park
o Morgantown Peninsula
o Sugarland Industrial Park
Monroe County
o Madisonville Industrial Park
o Niles Ferry Industrial Park
o Sweetwater Industrial Park
o Tellico Industrial Properties
Roane County
o Clinch River Industrial Site
o Heritage Center Industrial Park
o Horizon Center
o Roane Regional Business and
Technology Park
o Roane County Industrial Park
Sevier County
o John L. Marshall Industrial Park
o Smith-Thomas Business Park
A significant portion of the residential populations are in or near the cities and towns in the area. In the
more rural areas, scattered residences are located along the state and local roadway system.
9
The population projections indicate that the population of the entire seven county region will increase
by 47,186 by the year 2040. This represents a 45.7% increase. The employment projections indicate
that the employment in the entire seven county region will increase by 30,742 by the year 2040. This
represents a 54.0% increase. These increases in population and employment will increase the
residential, commercial and industrial land uses in the region and the traffic volumes on the region’s
roadways.
Farming operations are located throughout the seven counties in rural areas with suitable slopes and
suitable soils. A significant portion of the ETSRPO is covered in forests, especially in the eastern portion
of the area within the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest.
According to the Federal Highway Administration Report “Planning for Transportation in Rural Areas”,
July 2001, the study area is probably considered “Developed Rural – fundamentally dispersed counties
or regions with one or more population center(s) of 5,000 or more. Economies in these areas tend to be
mixed industrial and service based in the cities and agricultural and natural resource based in the rural
areas. Populations tend to be stable or growing, and transportation more diverse (commuting intercity
travel/freight, and other purposes).”
Public Chapter 1101 required all Tennessee counties and their associated municipalities to develop countywide
growth plans except counties with metropolitan governments. The plans establish Urban Growth Boundaries
(UGB) for municipalities. The plans may also establish Planned Growth Areas (PGAs) and Rural Areas (RAs)
outside those boundaries. The plans are based on 20-year growth projections and show the urban growth
boundaries which contain the corporate limits of a municipality and the adjoining area where growth is
expected during the 20-year period. Much of the anticipated population and employment growth will
likely occur within these urban growth boundaries. The available County Growth Plans are contained in
the Appendix. Additional information can be found at: http://www.tn.gov/tacir/section/growth-plans.
D. Major municipalities
The following lists the municipalities in each of the ETSRPO counties and the 2013 population of each.
The locations of these municipalities are shown on ETSRPO Study Area Map.
Blount County - 127,253
Alcoa – 8556 (not within the ETSRPO)
Friendsville – 845
Louisville – 2434 (not within the ETSRPO)
Maryville – 27,824 (not within the ETSRPO)
Rockford – 873 (not within the ETSRPO)
Townsend - 470
10
Cocke County - 35,162
Newport – 6890
Parrottsville – 247
Jefferson County - 53,240
Baneberry – 491
Dandridge – 2834
Jefferson City – 8,342 (not within the ETSRPO)
Morristown – 29,152 (not within the ETSRPO)
New Market – 1214 (not within the ETSRPO)
White Pine – 2405 (not within the ETSRPO)
Loudon County - 51,130
Farragut – 21,111 (not within the ETSRPO)
Greenback – 1032 (not within the ETSRPO)
Lenoir City – 8867 (not within the ETSRPO)
Loudon – 5606 (not within the ETSRPO)
Philadelphia - 901
Monroe County - 44,631
Madisonville – 4703
Sweetwater – 5856
Tellico Plains – 902
Vonore - 1585
Roane County - 52,753
Harriman – 6296
Kingston – 5888
Oak Ridge – 29,301 (not within the ETSRPO)
Oliver Springs – 3063
Rockwood - 5480
Sevier County - 95,946
Gatlinburg – 4059
Pigeon Forge – 6004
Pittman Center – 422
Sevierville – 15,592
The source of the above information was the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community
Development County Profiles.
11
E. Recreational facilities and tourism
Tourism and tourism related businesses have a big impact on the economy of the ETSRPO.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the
states of North Carolina and Tennessee. The portion of the park in Tennessee is located within the
ETSRPO in Blount, Cocke and Sevier Counties. The park has the highest visitation of any park in the
country attracting more than 10.7 million visitors in 2015. Activities in the park include: auto touring,
bicycling, camping, fall colors, fishing, hiking, historic buildings, horseback riding, picnicking, waterfalls,
wildflowers, wildlife viewing and others.
The park provides an economic hub generating over $873 million in visitor spending in 2015 and
supporting 13,709 jobs in surrounding communities. In 2014, tourism in Sevier County, which includes
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, generated $1.9 billion. In 2013, tourist spent $320 million in Blount
County. The following lists the 2013 tourism spending in the other fiver ETSRPO counties.
Cocke - $41.41 million
Jefferson - $53.75 million
Loudon - $51.73 million
Monroe - $35.18 million
Roane - $62.19 million
Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, the Cherokee National Forest is
divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 650,000
acres forest is the largest tract of land in Tennessee and adjoins other national forest in Virginia, North
Carolina and Georgia. Visitors come to explore the more than 600 miles of trails (including 150 miles of
the Appalachian National Scenic Trail), hundreds of miles of cold water streams, 7 whitewater rivers, 3
large lakes, 11 designated Wilderness areas, 30 campgrounds and the abundant wildlife. Recreational
activities include fishing, camping, hiking, backcountry trails, white water rafting, horseback riding,
scenic driving and others.
Monroe County contains approximately 123,372 acres of the Cherokee National Forest. Cocke County
contains approximately 126,316 acres of the Cherokee National Forest. Approximately 38% of the total
Cherokee National Forest is located in Cocke and Monroe Counties.
Also located in the ETSRPO, the Fort Loudoun State Historic Park is 1,200-acres and is one of the earliest
British fortifications on the western frontier, built in 1756. The fort was near the principal towns of the
Cherokee Nation including Tenase, namesake of our state, and Tuskegee, birthplace of Sequoyah. The
fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression and was designated a National Historic Landmark in
1965. The park is located in Monroe County near Vonore.
Dollywood theme park is located in Pigeon Forge in Sevier County. Dollywood has over 3,000,000
visitors in a typical year. Over 3000 employees work at the theme park.
12
Rivers in the study area include Tennessee River, Little Tennessee River, Little River, Tellico River, French
Broad River, Clinch River and Emory River. These rivers, lakes and lakeside properties includes
numerous home rentals, cabins, campgrounds, marinas, restaurants, golf courses and scenic areas.
Numerous marinas in the area offer boat rentals, Jet Ski rentals, floating lake homes, pontoon boats,
fishing boats, as well as accessible boat ramps to bring your own vessel onto these waters. Recreational
activities include fishing, boating, camping, hiking, rafting, and others.
F. Socioeconomic conditions
As previously noted, the ETSRPO study area is a rural area with scattered small municipalities. Generally
these municipalities have a population in the range of 200 to 7,000. Sevierville is the exception with a
population of almost 16,000. Significant portions of the study area are within the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest.
The socioeconomic conditions of the seven county area are summarized on the following table ETSRPO
Socio Economic Conditions.
ETSRPO Socio Economic Conditions
Per Capita Income Unemployment Rate % of Population with % of Population with Key Employment Top Employers2015 2015 High School Degree or Bachelor's Degree or Clusters
higher higher
State of Tennessee $42,069 5.8% 88.3% 26.8%
Blount County $37,085 5.3% 89.9% 23.0% Advanced manufacturing Denso Manufacturing TN Inc.Automotive Blount Memorial Hospital
Cocke County $28,236 7.9% 83.2% 10.1% Advanced manufacturing Cocke County School SystemHealthcare and medical devices Conagra Foods, Inc.
Jefferson County $30,715 6.5% 85.2% 15.6% Advanced manufacturing Bush Brothers & CompanyTransportation/Distribution/ Logistics Nyrstar Clarksville
Loudon County $40,084 5.7% 86.6% 22.3% Advanced manufacturing Loudon County School DistrictEnergy Technology Monterey Mushrooms, Inc.
Monroe County $29,449 6.4% 82.4% 11.1% Advanced manufacturing JTEKT AutomotiveAutomotive Monroe Cnty. Dept. of Education
Roane County $35,390 6.6% 87.3% 18.0% Healthcare and medical devices Roane County School DistrictAdvanced manufacturing Roane State Community College
Sevier County $32,350 6.1% 85.2% 15.9% Healthcare and medical devices Dollywood CompanyAdvanced manufacturing Sevier County School System
* Information in this table is for the entire county, RPO portion and non‐RPO portion.
Source: ECD County Profiles, June 2016
14
The table shows that all of the seven counties have a per capita income lower than the statewide
average. In fact, four of the counties have a per capita income at least $9719 less than the State of
Tennessee. In these four counties, the per capita income ranges from 67% to 77% of the statewide
average.
In five of the seven counties, the unemployment rate is higher than the statewide average. In these five
counties, the county unemployment rates range from 0.3% to 2.1% higher than the statewide average.
The highest unemployment rate is in Cocke County with a 7.9% unemployment compared to the
statewide average of 5.8%.
In six of the seven counties, the percentage of the population with a high school degree (or higher) is
lower than the statewide average. The lowest percentage is in Monroe County with a 82.4% of the
population with a high school degree (or higher) compared to the statewide average of 88.3%.
In all seven counties, the percentage of the population with bachelor’s degree or higher is lower than
the statewide average. In four of the counties, the percentage is significantly lower. The percentage of
the population in Cocke County with a bachelor’s degree is 10.1% compared to the statewide average of
26.8%.
The predominant key employment clusters in the area are advanced manufacturing and health and
medical services. In five of the counties, the county school board is one of the top two employers.
Cocke County is classified as a Economically Distressed County in FY 2016 by the Tennessee Department
of Economic and Community Development. The Economically Distressed Counties in Tennessee are the
ten most disadvantaged counties in each of the following categories: three year average unemployment
rate, per capita market income, or poverty rate.
III. Population
A. Populations Projections for the ETSRPO
The table below contains population projections for the seven counties and the entire ETSRPO. Note
that the projections for several of the counties include all of the county, both the ETSRPO area and the
KTPO area or LAKEWAY MTPO area.
15
Population Projections for the ETSRPO
YEAR ETSRPO * Blount* Cocke Jefferson* Loudon* Monroe Roane Sevier*
2016 484,941 133,236 36,976 55,714 54,261 47,980 55,630 101,144
2020 508,514 139,725 37,663 58,372 57,923 50,062 56,301 108,468
2025 538,922 147,612 39,322 61,432 62,151 53,117 57,982 117,306
2030 566,217 154,987 40,660 64,078 65,869 55,707 59,209 125,707
2035 596,203 164,461 41,654 66,253 68,918 57,675 59,938 137,304
2040 622,463 172,869 42,351 68,048 71,421 59,170 60,274 148,330
Increase 2016 137,522 39,633 5,375 12,334 17,160 11,190 4,644 47,186
to 2040
% Increase 28.4% 29.7% 14.5% 22.1% 31.7% 23.3% 8.3% 45.7%
* The projections for these counties include all of the county, both the ETSRPO area and
the KTPO area or LAKEWAY MTPO area.
Source: Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
August 2015.
The projections indicate that the population of the entire seven county region will increase by 137,522
by the year 2040. This represents an 28.4% increase. Sevier County shows the highest percentage
growth during this period with an increase of 45.7%. Roane County shows the lowest growth rate of
8.3% during the period.
IV. Employment
A. Employment Projections for the ETSRPO
The table below contains employment projections for the seven counties and the entire ETSRPO. Note
that the projections for Blount, Jefferson, Loudon and Sevier counties include all of the county, both the
ETSRPO area and the KTPO area or LAKEWAY MTPO area.
16
Employment Projections for the ETSRPO
YEAR ETSRPO * Blount* Cocke Jefferson* Loudon* Monroe Roane Sevier*
2016 214,347 64,884 12,106 20,296 19,811 18,733 21,613 56,904
2020 228,495 69,385 12,595 21,464 21,216 19,756 22,420 61,659
2025 246,121 74,952 13,144 22,908 22,982 20,922 23,364 67,849
2030 262,718 80,400 13,628 24,323 24,741 21,999 23,364 74,263
2035 279,928 85,722 14,054 25,696 26,483 22,989 24,229 80,755
2040 297,706 91,031 14,440 27,050 28,626 23,917 24,996 87,646
Increase 2016
to 2040 83,359 26,147 2334 6754 8815 5184 3383 30,742
% Increase 38.9% 40.2% 19.2% 34.1% 44.5% 27.7% 15.7% 54.0%
* The projections for these counties include all of the county, both the ETSRPO area and the KTPO area or
LAKEWAY MTPO area.
Source: Woods and Poole
The projections indicate that the employment in the entire seven county region will increase by 83,359
by the year 2040. This represents a 38.9% increase. Sevier County shows the highest percentage growth
during this period with an increase of 54%. Roane County shows the lowest growth rate of 15.7%.
V. Major Traffic Generators
A. Major Traffic Generators in the ETSRPO
Tourism and tourism related businesses have a big impact on the economy of the ETSRPO and on traffic
generation in the seven county region.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, divided almost evenly between the
states of North Carolina and Tennessee. The portion of the park in Tennessee is located within the
ETSRPO in Blount, Cocke and Sevier Counties. The park has the highest visitation of any park in the
country attracting more than 10.7 million visitors in 2015.
Dollywood theme park is located in Pigeon Forge in Sevier County. Dollywood has over 3,000,000
visitors in a typical year. Over 3000 employees work at the theme park.
17
The Cherokee National Forest, 650,000 acres, is the largest tract of land in Tennessee. Visitors come to
explore the more than 600 miles of trails (including 150 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail),
hundreds of miles of cold water streams, 7 whitewater rivers, 3 large lakes, 11 designated Wilderness
areas, 30 campgrounds and the abundant wildlife. Recreational activities include fishing, camping,
hiking, backcountry trails, white water rafting, horseback riding, scenic driving and others. Monroe
County contains approximately 123,372 acres of the Cherokee National Forest. Cocke County contains
approximately 126,316 acres of the Cherokee National Forest. Approximately 38% of the total Cherokee
National Forest is located in Cocke and Monroe Counties.
Rivers in the study area include Tennessee River, Little Tennessee River, Little River, Tellico River, French
Broad River, Clinch River and Emory River. The rivers and lakes in the region are major recreational and
tourism attractions.
Two areas adjacent to the ETSRPO have a major impact on traffic flow within the ETNSRPO. Knoxville /
Knox County is north of the ETSRPO and adjacent to Loudon, Blount, Sevier and Jefferson counties.
Knox County has a population of well over 400,000 making it the third most populous county in
Tennessee. The City of Knoxville is the third most populous city in the state. Knoxville serves as the
main hub in the area for employment, shopping, health care, entertainment and education.
The City of Oak Ridge also serves as a major traffic generator in the area. Oak Ridge is located in
Anderson County adjacent to the ETSRPO. Oak Ridge is the home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
and the Y-12 National Security Complex (approximately 11,000 employees).
Other major traffic generators / employers in the region include:
Blount County
Denso Manufacturing TN, Inc., Maryville, 3150 employees
Blount Memorial Hospital, Inc. Maryville, 1850 employees
Clayton Homes, Inc., Maryville, 1500 employees
Alcoa Inc., Alcoa, 1000 employees
Cocke County
Conagra Foods, Inc., Newport, 514 employees
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Newport, 400 employees
Jefferson County
Bush Brothers & Company, Dandridge, 500 employees
Nyrstar Clarksville Inc., Strawberry Plains, 450 employees
Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, 320 employees
18
Loudon County
Monterey Mushroom, Inc. Loudon, 450 employees
Malibu Boats, Llc. Loudon, 381 employees
Monroe County
JTEKT Automotive Tennessee, Vonore, 900 employees
Sweetwater Hospital Association, Sweetwater, 550 employees
Mastercraft Boat Company, Llc, Vonore, 500 employees
Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing, USA, Inc. Vonore, 350 employees
Roane County
Roane State Community College, Harriman, 900 employees
Kimble Chase Life Science and Research Products, LLC, Rockwood, 400 employees
Michael Dunn Center, Kingston, 300 employees
Sevier County
The Dollywood Company, Pigeon Forge, 2500 employees
Westgate Resorts, Sevierville, 500 employees
Leconte Medical Center, Sevierville, 450 employees
TRW Fuji Valve, Pigeon Forge, 300 employees
VI. Commuting Patterns
A. Commuting Patterns in the ETSRPO
The following seven tables summarize the 2014 commuting patterns for the seven ETSRPO counties.
The three columns on the left side of each table show the number of workers commuting to the subject
county. The three columns on the right side show the number of workers commuting out of the county.
The numbers highlighted in orange represents the number of people who live and work within the
subject county. The numbers highlighted in green represents the number of people commuting to Knox
County from the subject county. The numbers highlighted in blue represents the number of people
commuting from Knox County to the subject county.
The tables show a significant connection between each county and Knox County for commuting into the
subject county and commuting out of the subject county.
19
BLOUNT COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Blount County, TN* 21,506 48.7% Blount County, TN* 21,506 42.0%
Knox County, TN 9,273 21.0% Knox County, TN 16,533 32.3%
Sevier County, TN 1,543 3.5% Sevier County, TN 1,606 3.1%
Loudon County, TN 1,540 3.5% Anderson County, TN 1,511 3.0%
Monroe County, TN 991 2.2% Davidson County, TN 1,321 2.6%
Anderson County, TN 855 1.9% Loudon County, TN 1,135 2.2%
Roane County, TN 594 1.3% Monroe County, TN 871 1.7%
Hamilton County, TN 548 1.2% Hamilton County, TN 824 1.6%
Jefferson County, TN 464 1.1% Shelby County, TN 614 1.2%
Davidson County, TN 361 0.8% Hamblen County, TN 329 0.6%
All Other Locations 6,507 14.7% All Other Locations 4,897 9.6%
TOTAL 44,182 TOTAL 51,147
COCKE COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Cocke County, TN* 3,874 55.60% Cocke County, TN* 3,874 30.3%
Jefferson County, TN 596 8.50% Sevier County, TN 2,107 16.5%
Hamblen County, TN 384 5.50% Hamblen County, TN 1,326 10.4%
Sevier County, TN 298 4.30% Knox County, TN 1,300 10.2%
Greene County, TN 235 3.40% Jefferson County, TN 896 7.0%
Knox County, TN 210 3.00% Greene County, TN 570 4.5%
Sullivan County, TN 124 1.80% Davidson County, TN 387 3.0%
Carter County, TN 87 1.20% Hamilton County, TN 188 1.5%
Blount County, TN 80 1.10% Blount County, TN 177 1.4%
Grainger County, TN 80 1.10% Shelby County, TN 160 1.3%
All Other Locations 1,004 14.40% All Other Locations 1,805 14.1%
Total 6,972 Total 12,790
20
JEFFERSON COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Jefferson County, TN* 4,551 36.30% Knox County, TN 4,578 24.20%
Hamblen County, TN 1,556 12.40% Jefferson County, TN* 4,551 24.10%
Knox County, TN 1,208 9.60% Hamblen County, TN 2,891 15.30%
Cocke County, TN 896 7.10% Sevier County, TN 2,129 11.30%
Sevier County, TN 678 5.40% Cocke County, TN 596 3.20%
Grainger County, TN 584 4.70% Davidson County, TN 521 2.80%
Greene County, TN 231 1.80% Blount County, TN 464 2.50%
Hawkins County, TN 225 1.80% Hamilton County, TN 278 1.50%
Sullivan County, TN 224 1.80% Anderson County, TN 250 1.30%
Anderson County, TN 170 1.40% Shelby County, TN 242 1.30%
All Other Locations 2,224 17.70% All Other Locations 2,385 12.60%
Total 12,547 Total 18,885
LOUDON COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Loudon County, TN* 5,101 37.90% Knox County, TN 5,916 31.40%
Knox County, TN 2,260 16.80% Loudon County, TN* 5,101 27.10%
Monroe County, TN 1,198 8.90% Blount County, TN 1,540 8.20%
Blount County, TN 1,135 8.40% Anderson County, TN 1,288 6.80%
Roane County, TN 908 6.80% Monroe County, TN 991 5.30%
Anderson County, TN 301 2.20% Davidson County, TN 463 2.50%
Bradley County, TN 238 1.80% Roane County, TN 370 2.00%
McMinn County, TN 217 1.60% Hamilton County, TN 357 1.90%
Hamilton County, TN 140 1.00% McMinn County, TN 332 1.80%
Campbell County, TN 116 0.90% Shelby County, TN 243 1.30%
All Other Locations 1,834 13.60% All Other Locations 2,216 11.80%
Total 13,448 Total 18,817
21
MONROE COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Monroe County, TN* 6,323 49.60% Monroe County, TN* 6,323 40.80%
McMinn County, TN 1,213 9.50% Knox County, TN 1,854 12.00%
Loudon County, TN 991 7.80% McMinn County, TN 1,481 9.60%
Blount County, TN 871 6.80% Loudon County, TN 1,198 7.70%
Knox County, TN 685 5.40% Blount County, TN 991 6.40%
Roane County, TN 280 2.20% Davidson County, TN 479 3.10%
Bradley County, TN 235 1.80% Hamilton County, TN 352 2.30%
Hamilton County, TN 167 1.30% Anderson County, TN 349 2.30%
Meigs County, TN 137 1.10% Bradley County, TN 285 1.80%
Polk County, TN 116 0.90% Shelby County, TN 224 1.40%
All Other Locations 1,738 13.60% All Other Locations 1,971 12.70%
Total 12,756 Total 15,507
ROANE COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Roane County, TN* 5,072 43.70% Roane County, TN* 5,072 25.90%
Knox County, TN 1,182 10.20% Knox County, TN 4,238 21.60%
Anderson County, TN 734 6.30% Anderson County, TN 4,010 20.50%
Morgan County, TN 710 6.10% Loudon County, TN 908 4.60%
Cumberland County, TN 449 3.90% Blount County, TN 594 3.00%
Loudon County, TN 370 3.20% Davidson County, TN 583 3.00%
Blount County, TN 222 1.90% Hamilton County, TN 412 2.10%
Rhea County, TN 188 1.60% Cumberland County, TN 326 1.70%
Campbell County, TN 167 1.40% Shelby County, TN 282 1.40%
Davidson County, TN 147 1.30% Monroe County, TN 280 1.40%
All Other Locations 2,356 20.30% All Other Locations 2,896 14.80%
Total 11,597 Total 19,601
22
SEVIER COUNTY 2014 COMMUTING PATTERNS
In Commuting Number Percent Out Commuting Number Percent
Sevier County, TN* 21,130 56.30% Sevier County, TN* 21,130 54.90%
Knox County, TN 3,841 10.20% Knox County, TN 8,111 21.10%
Jefferson County, TN 2,129 5.70% Blount County, TN 1,543 4.00%
Cocke County, TN 2,107 5.60% Davidson County, TN 869 2.30%
Blount County, TN 1,606 4.30% Hamblen County, TN 797 2.10%
Hamblen County, TN 620 1.70% Jefferson County, TN 678 1.80%
Davidson County, TN 426 1.10% Hamilton County, TN 473 1.20%
Anderson County, TN 370 1.00% Shelby County, TN 409 1.10%
Sullivan County, TN 297 0.80% Anderson County, TN 402 1.00%
Washington County, TN 239 0.60% Washington County, TN 315 0.80%
All Other Locations 4,748 12.70% All Other Locations 3,727 9.70%
Total 37,513 Total 38,454
* Number representing the number of people who live and work within the subject county.
Number representing the number of people commuting to Knox County from subject county.
Number representing the number of people commuting from Knox County to subject county.
VII. Existing Transportation System
A. Major Roadway System
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, TDOT, uses the following classifications in rural areas:
Interstate, Principal Arterial, Minor Arterial, Major Collector and Minor Collector. The TDOT Functional
Classification Map for each county can be found in the Appendix.
Interstates are officially designated as Interstates by the Secretary of Transportation and all routes that
comprise the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways belong to the
Interstate functional classification category and are also considered Principal Arterials.
The ETSRPO has three interstates located in the seven county region. I-40 is a major east west facility
crossing Roane, Loudon, Sevier, Jefferson and Cocke counties. Interchanges with I-40 are located at SR
299, US 27, SR 29, SR 326, Buttermilk Road, Industrial Park Road, SR 95 / US 321, SR 66 / US 441, Deep
Springs Road, SR 9 / US 70 / US 25W, SR 92, SR 113, US 25W, SR 32 / US 321, SR 73 / US 321, SR 339 /
Foothills Parkway, Big Creek Road and Tobes Creek Road. I-75 crosses Loudon and Monroe counties in a
generally north south direction. Interchanges with I-81 are located at SR 72, SR 322 and SR 68. I -81
23
crosses Jefferson County is a generally northeast southwest direction. Interchanges with I-81 are
located at SR 341, SR 32 / US 25E, SR 160 and SR 340.
Principal Arterial roadways serve major centers of metropolitan areas, provide a high degree of mobility
and can also provide mobility through rural areas. Unlike their access-controlled counterparts, abutting
land uses can be served directly. These roadways serve corridor movements having trip length and
travel density characteristics indicative of substantial statewide or interstate travel.
Principal arterials in the area include:
SR 29 / US 27, Roane County
SR 33 / US 411, Blount, Loudon and Monroe counties
SR 58, Roane County
SR 61, Roane County
SR 71, Sevier County
SR 73 / US 321, Blount, Loudon and Sevier counties
Minor Arterials serve trips of moderate length, serve geographic areas that are smaller than their higher
Arterial counterparts and offer connectivity to the higher Arterial system. In rural settings, Minor
Arterials should be identified and spaced at intervals consistent with population density, so that all
developed areas are within a reasonable distance of a higher level Arterial. Additionally, Minor Arterials
in rural areas are typically designed to provide relatively high overall travel speeds, with minimum
interference to through movement.
Minor Arterials in the area include:
SR 1 / US 70, Roane County
SR 2 / US 11, Loudon and Monroe counties
SR 9 / US 25W, Cocke and Jefferson counties
SR 32 / US 25E, Cocke and Jefferson counties
SR 34 / US 11E, Jefferson County
SR 35 / US 321, Blount, Cocke and Sevier counties
SR 39, Monroe County
SR 58, Roane County
SR 68, Monroe County
SR 71 / US 411 / US 441, Sevier County
SR 72, Blount, Loudon, Monroe and Roane counties
SR 73 / US 321, Cocke and Sevier Counties
SR 92, Jefferson County
SR 115 / US 129, Blount and Monroe counties
SR 324, Loudon County
24
Collectors serve a critical role in the roadway network by gathering traffic from Local Roads and
funneling them to the Arterial network. In the rural environment, Collectors generally serve primarily
intra-county travel (rather than statewide) and constitute those routes on which (independent of traffic
volume) predominant travel distances are shorter than on Arterial routes. Consequently, more
moderate speeds may be posted.
The distinctions between Major Collectors and Minor Collectors are often subtle. Generally, Major
Collector routes are longer in length; have lower connecting driveway densities; have higher speed
limits; are spaced at greater intervals; have higher annual average traffic volumes; and may have more
travel lanes than their Minor Collector counterparts. Major Collectors offer more mobility and Minor
Collectors offer more access.
Major Collectors in the area include the following.
County
BLOUNT
Road Name
01216
Local Road Name
MORGANTON RD.
Road Name
02404
Local Road Name
WILDWOOD RD.
01246 WILDWOOD RD. 05843 HENRY LN.
01275 BURNETT STATION RD. SR336 BRICK MILL RD.
01295 ELLEJOY RD. SR336 SIX MILE RD.
01295 JEFFERIES HOLLOW RD. SR336 MONTVALE RD.
02402 JEFFRIES HOLLOW RD. SR337 SR-337
COCKE
SR032
SR107
SR160
SR-32
HWY. 107
HWY. 160
SR339
SR340
JONES COVE RD.
SR-340
JEFFERSON
01307
MAIN ST.
SR113
STATE HWY. 113
01430 C.H. RANKIN RD. SR113 MAIN ST.
02512 MILL ST. SR139 OLD DANDRIDGE PK.
02512 WALNUT ST. SR139 STATE HWY. 139
02512 BETH CAR RD. SR139 MAIN ST.
02512 OLD AIRPORT RD. SR341 TALBOTT-KANSAS RD.
02516
SR009
SR009
SR009
SR009
SR066
MAPLE ST.
US-25
ASHEVILLE HWY.
E. MEETING ST.
US-25W
VALLEY HOME RD.
SR341
SR341
SR341
SR341
SR363
N. WHITE PINE RD.
S. WHITE PINE RD.
ROY J. MESSER HWY.
OLD AIRPORT RD.
INDIAN CREEK RD.
LOUDON
01138
SR001
SR095
SR095
STEEKEE RD.
HWY. 70
HWY. 95 S.
MAPLE ST.
SR095
SR322
SR323
MORGANTON RD.
OAKLAND RD.
POND CREEK RD.
25
MONROE
SR165
SR165
SR307
STATE HWY. 165
CHEROHALA SKYWAY
EASTANAULA RD.
SR315
SR322
SR360
RELIANCE RD.
OAKLAND RD.
STATE HWY. 360
ROANE
SR001
SR299
SR304
US-70
AIRPORT RD.
RIVER RD.
SR322
SR326
SR327
SWEETWATER RD.
GALLAHER RD.
BLAIR RD.
SEVIER
SR009
SR139
SR338
SR339
ASHEVILLE HWY.
DOUGLAS DAM RD.
DOUGLAS DAM RD.
LONG SPRINGS RD.
SR339
SR339
SR416
SR454
OLD NEWPORT HWY.
JONES COVE RD.
PITTMAN CENTER RD.
BUCKHORN RD.
Minor Collectors are listed in the table below. All of these Minor Collectors are local roads owned and
maintained by local county or municipal highway agencies. Most of these Minor Collectors are on the
State Aid System.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
BLOUNT 01023 FOUR MILE RD. 02402 ELLEJOY RD.
01220 UNITIA RD. 02402 A.R. DAVIS RD.
01246 N. WILDWOOD RD. 02402 OLD CHILHOWEE RD.
01263 MONTVALE RD. 02402 BLAIR LOOP
01263 HAPPY VALLEY RD. 02402 COLD SPRINGS RD.
02393 MINT RD. 02404 ANDY HARRIS RD.
02393 CHOTA RD. 02410 MARTIN MILL PK.
02395 RIVER FORD RD. 04816 OLD NILES FERRY PK.
02402 PROSPECT RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
COCKE 00931 TRAIL HOLLOW RD. 02461 HALE RD.
00931 HARTFORD RD. 02461 POINT PLEASANT RD.
01242 BIG CREEK RD. 02486 BOGARD RD.
01242 BULL MOUNTAIN RD. 02509 CARSON SPRINGS RD.
01242 MIDWAY RD. 02511 RANKIN HILL RD.
01242 BLUE MILL RD. 02513 SAWYER HOLLOW RD.
01321 TOBES CREEK RD. 02513 GLENDALE RD.
01321 GREEN CORNER RD. 02513 BRIARTHICKET RD.
01321 GRASSY FORK RD. 02513 KNOB CREEK RD.
01323 ROUND MOUNTAIN RD. 02515 INDIAN CAMP RD.
01325 INDUSTRIAL RD. 02570 OLD STATE HWY. 32
01325 HOLT TOWN RD. 02570 LOWER BOGARD RD.
26
01327 AIRPORT RD. 02574 OLD FIFTEENTH RD.
01327 KNOB CREEK RD. 02574 LONG BRANCH RD.
01327 FOWLERS GROVE RD. 02576 HAPPY HOLLOW RD.
01342 OVEN CREEK RD. 02576 LONG CREEK RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
JEFFERSON 01292 MCGANA HOLLOW RD. 02457 WITT RD.
01296 E. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD. 02459 MANSFIELD GAP RD.
01296 W. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD. 02492 FLAT CREEK RD.
01296 PIEDMONT RD. 02494 W. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD.
01296 PARK ST. 02496 SANDY RIDGE RD.
01298 W. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD. 02498 GREEN HILL RD.
01298 MCGUIRE RD. 02500 ZIRKLE RD.
01300 MT. HOREB RD. 02502 NINA RD.
01300 FATE RANKIN RD. 02504 ROCKY VALLEY RD.
01307 MAIN ST. 02506 HINCHEY VALLEY RD.
01307 ENKA RD. 02508 BROTHERTON RD.
01308 TALBOTT-KANSAS RD. 02508 SAM MARTIN RD.
01405 DEEP SPRINGS RD. 02510 MINE RD.
01430 SPRING CREEK RD. 02512 BETH CARR RD.
01430 C.H. RANKIN RD. 02512 LEADVALE RD.
02449 DUMPLIN LOOP RD. 02512 OLD AIRPORT RD.
02451 SWANNSYLVANIA RD. 02514 RAINWATER RD.
02453 PINEY RD. 02514 JIM HENRY RD.
02453 WHITAKER RD. 02516 BELL RD.
02453 OLD ANDREW JOHNSON HWY. W. 02516 MAPLE ST.
02453 LOST CREEK RD. 02518 HARDY RD.
02453 NANCES FERRY RD. 02518 WHITE OAK GROVE RD.
02453 INDIAN CAVE RD. 02635 HINCHEY HOLLOW RD.
02453 FIELDEN STORE RD. 02635 FLAT GAP RD.
02455 HAMILTON ST. 02714 ROCKTOWN RD.
02455 BIG BEND RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
LOUDON 01214 STOCKTON VALLEY RD. 01269 NATIONAL CAMPGROUND
01214 POND CREEK RD. 02341 RAUSIN RD.
01216 E. COAST TELLICO PKWY. 02345 STEEKEE CREEK RD.
01216 MORGANTON RD. 02347 MEADOW RD. W.
01218 STEEKEE SCHOOL RD. 02347 BIG HILL RD.
01218 DAVIS FERRY RD. 02349 DRY VALLEY RD.
01220 UNITIA RD. 02353 DRY RIDGE RD.
27
01245 STOCKTON VALLEY RD. 02354 WATKINS RD.
01251 HINES VALLEY RD. 02354 WATKINS RD.
01251 PINE GROVE-PROVIDENCE RD. 02354 VONORE RD.
01251 SUGAR LIMB RD. 02360 HINES VALLEY RD.
01258 BLUE SPRINGS RD. 02364 BEALS CHAPEL RD.
01259 POPLAR SPRINGS RD. 02364 LAKELAND DR.
01259 POPLAR SPRINGS RD. 05564 FORK CREEK RD.
01259 POPLAR RIDGE RD. 05928 HOTCHKISS VALLEY RD.
01269 E. COAST TELLICO PKWY. 05932 RITCHEY RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
MONROE 01138 LOUDON RD. 01237 OAK GROVE RD.
01139 CITICO RD. 01241 HIWASSEE RD.
01139 MT. PLEASANT RD. 02335 POVO RD.
01198 OLD FEDERAL RD. 02335 GRIFFITH BRANCH RD.
01198 OLD TELLICO HWY. S. 02337 SANDS RD.
01200 OLD ATHENS RD. 02340 RIVER RD.
01202 BALLPLAY RD. 02341 RAUSIN HOLLOW RD.
01204 NILES FERRY RD. 02342 RAFTER RD.
01206 OLD HWY. 68 02344 POVO RD.
01216 E. COAST TELLICO PKWY. 02348 KINCAID RD.
01235 MECCA PK. 02348 ACORN GAP RD.
01235 BANK ST. 02348 GLENLOCK RD.
01235 FAIRVIEW RD. 02350 WILLIAM SHORES RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
ROANE 01203 BLACK HOLLOW RD. 02363 DOGTOWN RD.
01224 LAWNVILLE RD. 02363 PONDERS GAP RD.
01226 SWAN POND RD. 02363 SALEM VALLEY RD.
01228 SWAN POND CIRCLE RD. 02363 DRY FORK VALLEY RD.
01230 WEBSTER RD. 02363 BLUE SPRINGS RD.
01230 CLAX GAP RD. 02363 PAINT ROCK VALLEY RD.
01230 MAYS VALLEY RD. 02365 DOGWOOD VALLEY RD.
01230 DYLLIS RD. 02365 CAVE CREEK RD.
01230 OLD HARRIMAN HWY. 02366 W. BUTTERMILK RD.
01253 EAGLE FURNACE RD. 02369 SUGAR GROVE VALLEY RD.
01253 WINTON CHAPEL RD. 02371 OLLIS RD.
01253 ABEL VALLEY RD. 02372 HASSLER MILL RD.
01258 BLUE SPRINGS RD. 02374 SUGAR GROVE VALLEY RD.
01303 GORDON HOLLOW RD. 02374 POPLAR CREEK RD.
01425 CANEY CREEK RD. 02374 MAHANEY RD.
28
02360 PINE GROVE RD. 02376 DICKEY VALLEY RD.
County Road Name Local Road Name Road Name Local Road Name
SEVIER 01152 COPE LAND RD. 02480 NEW ERA RD.
01284 GLADES RD. 02480 W. NEW ERA RD.
01286 UPPER MIDDLE CREEK RD. 02480 RIVER DIVIDE RD.
01290 ALLENSVILLE RD. 02486 BOGARD RD.
01292 BLOWING CAVE RD. 02488 ROBERT HENDERSON RD.
01292 DERRICK RD. 02490 ZION HILL RD.
01294 GOOSE GAP RD. 02490 GISTS CREEK RD.
02424 KODAK RD. 02492 S. FLAT CREEK RD.
02424 W. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD. 02492 FLAT CREEK RD.
02438 RAYS GAP RD. 02494 E. DUMPLIN VALLEY RD.
02439 WHITES SCHOOL RD. 02712 OLD NEWPORT HWY.
02441 SHILOH CHURCH RD. 04691 HARDIN LN.
02476 WALDENS CREEK RD. 04694 APPLE VALLEY RD.
02478 JAYELL RD.
B. Freight
The following reports were reviewed relative to freight transportation in the ETNRPO counties.
Freight Needs and Project Identification (Draft Report), prepared for the Tennessee Department
of Transportation, prepared by Cambridge Systematics, Inc., dated September 23, 2010.
TDOT’s Tennessee Statewide Multimodal Freight Plan.
Three interstates cross the ETSRPO counties. In 2003, the estimated truck volumes on these interstates
were as follows: I-40 – 7,500 to 10,000 trucks per day, I-75 – 10,000 to 12,500 trucks per day and I-81 –
7,500 to 10,000 trucks per day. In 2030, the truck volumes on these three interstates are projected to
increase to more than 15,000 trucks per day.
These reports recommend the following improvements in the study area to help accommodate the
increasing volumes of freight.
I-40 – Add truck lanes at several location.
I-75, from SR 323 to the I-40/I-75 junction, widen from 4 to 6 lanes.
I-75, from SR 68 SR 322, widen from 4 to 6 lanes.
I-81, from I-40 to SR 341, widen from 4 to 6 lanes.
I-81, from SR 341 to SR 340, widen from 4 to 6 lanes.
29
Under the FAST Act, FHWA is establishing a National Highway Freight Network. The Tennessee
Department of Transportation is required to designate Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CRFC) in
Tennessee.
The primary criteria for designation of a roadway as a CRFC is that the roadway must be a rural principal
arterial roadway with a minimum of 25 percent of the annual average daily traffic (AADT) of the road
measured in passenger vehicle equivalent units from trucks. Six other criteria can also be considered in
designation of a CRFC. TDOT is working closely with RPO Coordinators to designate CRFCs in the rural
areas of Tennessee.
C. Railroads
Two major railroads are located in the ERSRPO area. The CSX Railroad crosses portions of Monroe and
Blount counties. The Norfolk Southern Railroad crosses through Roane, Loudon, Monroe, Blount, Cocke
and Jefferson counties.
A short line rail road, Franklin Industries Railroad, connects Crab Orchard in Cumberland County to the
Norfolk Southern Railroad in Roane County. This short line is 15.8 miles long and primarily transports
chemical grade limestone.
The location of these railroads are shown on the ETNRPO Study Area Map.
D. Airports
The nearest commercial service airport is McGhee Tyson located on SR 115/US 129 south of Knoxville.
McGhee Tyson has 79 daily flights. The runway length is 9,005 feet.
Two general aviation airports are located within the ETSRPO:
Monroe County Airport, 350 Airport Rd, Madisonville, TN, Runway Length: 3643 feet.
Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport, 134 Air Museum Way, Sevierville, TN, Runway Length: 5506
feet.
The location of these airports are shown on the ETSRPO Study Area Map.
E. Waterways
The Tennessee Reservoir Development Agency operates a public river port on mile 603 of the Tennessee
River. This facility has two mooring cells and a Railroad spur for offloading.
30
Burkhart Enterprises operates a river port at mile 652 on the Tennessee River. The facility transfers
approximately 500,000 tons of bulk commodities per year. The facility is served by the Norfolk Southern
and Knoxville Holston River Railroad.
F. Transit
The East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, ETHRA, has provided public transit services in the seven
county region since 1983. This agency provides general public service Monday through Friday from 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 a.m. After hours and weekend service is available as needed through contract services.
Transportation is available to all members of the general public. All trips are scheduled through a
centralized regional call center.
ETHRA’s public transportation provides an important role in the region in providing access to
employment opportunities for low income and disadvantaged individuals without automobiles. The
agency also provides transportation services to medical facilities, shopping areas and educational
facilities.
G. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has identified several proposed state highway bicycle
routes in the region. These include the following:
Nashville to Bristol Bicycle Route: Segments of the following - SR 34 / US 11E, Jefferson County;
SR 33 / US 411, Blount and Monroe Counties
Chattanooga to Mountain City Bicycle Route: Segments of the following - Foothills Parkway,
Blount County; SR 115 / US 129, Blount County; SR 95, Loudon County; SR 73 / US 321, Loudon
County; SR 1 / US 70, Loudon and Roane Counties
Chattanooga Connector: Segments of the following - SR 27 / US 29, Roane County
The location of these bicycle routes can be seen on the map entitled “Proposed State Highway Bicycle
Routes - Region 1” on the TDOT website
http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/bicyclerouteRegion1.pdf.
Regional walking trails in the area include the following:
Appalachian Trail: The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the
scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. In
the ETSRPO regions, the Appalachian Trail is generally located just west of the Tennessee and
North Carolina state border in the following counties: Monroe, Blount, Sevier and Cocke
counties.
31
East Lakeshore National Recreation Trail: this scenic trail system skirts the eastern shoreline of
Tellico Lake and features nine interconnected trails that stretch more than 30 miles.
Fort Loudon State Historic Park Trails: The 5 miles of connecting hiking trails weave through the
woodlands, grassy fields, and along the lake's shore near Fort Loudon Fort.
32
Appendix
33
ETNRPO Major
Environmental Features
CUMBERLAND TRAIL
FROZEN HEAD
PINEY FALLS
FORT LOUDON
PANTHER CREEK
HOUSE MOUNTAIN
NORRIS DAM
MCGEE CARSON PENINSULA
ROUNDTOP MOUNTAIN
HIWASSEE OCOEE
OZONE FALLS
CAMPBELL BEND BARRENSCROWDER CEMETERY BARRENS MARBLE SPRINGS
SAM HOUSTON SCHOOL
NANCY WARD GRAVESITE
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Obed WSR
Andrew Johnson NHS
§̈¦I 40
§̈¦I 75
§̈¦I 640
§̈¦I 81
§̈¦I 140
§̈¦I 275
§̈¦I 75
§̈¦I 81
§̈¦I 140
§̈¦I 75
Tennessee River
French Broad River
Holston River
Little Tennessee River
Hiwassee River
Tellico Lake
Piney River
Emory River Clinch River
Fort Loudoun Lake
Nolichucky River
Douglas LakeMcGuire Creek
Little River
Melton Hill Lake
Ish Creek
Caney Creek
Gallagher Creek
Sinking Creek
Bullrun Creek
Little Emory River
Ocoee River
Lackey Creek
Flat Creek
Flats Creek
Bearden Creek
South Mouse Creek
Poland Creek
North Mouse Creek
Hines Creek
Beaver Creek
Knob Creek
George CreekHope Creek
Yellow Creek
Trial Branch
Blue Spring Slough
Grable Branch
Lost Creek
Quarry Creek
Dry Land Creek
Creek
MC Kinley Branch
Third Creek
MC Cowan Creek
Tuckahoe Creek
Rodgers Branch Duncan Branch
Berry Branch
Bird Branch
Fall Branch
Laurel Bank Branch
MC Camy Branch
Jackson Branch
Wolf Creek
Riley Creek
Cherokee
Nantahala
PisgahK n o xK n o x
S e v i e rS e v i e r
M o n r o eM o n r o e
B l o u n tB l o u n t
C o c k eC o c k e
R o a n eR o a n e
M c M i n nM c M i n n
M o r g a nM o r g a n
P o l kP o l k
G r e e n eG r e e n eA n d e r s o nA n d e r s o n
L o u d o nL o u d o n
J e f f e r s o nJ e f f e r s o n
M e i g sM e i g sR h e aR h e a
B r a d l e yB r a d l e y
H a m b l e nH a m b l e nU n i o nU n i o n G r a i n g e rG r a i n g e r
C u m b e r l a n dC u m b e r l a n d
S c o t tS c o t t C a m p b e l lC a m p b e l l
ETSRPO MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES
Map prepared by:East Tennessee Development District
Geographic Information SystemsAlcoa, TN
Map printed: August 15, 201610 0 105
Miles µ
SRPO boundaryInterstatesTrails
Flood Hazard AreaMajor RiversState Parks
National ParksForest Boundary
Note: Flood layers are generalized based on data from the FederalEmergency Management Agency and are for reference only.
34
County Functional
Classification Maps
35
County Growth Plans