Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2026

The second round of public outreach for the MOVING TOGETHER: 2055 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is complete! Thank you to everyone who completed the online survey or engaged with us in person. During this outreach round, community members also had the opportunity to review and provide input on the draft 2026 Memphis MPO Safety Action Plan (SAP). Be on the lookout for future engagement opportunities as we continue development of the plan.

Quick Survey Facts

In-person events

Respondents most often prioritized improving roadway, intersection, and interchange design to reduce travel delays for people and goods across all modes

Total completed surveys, including both in-person and online responses

The 2026 Memphis MPO Safety Action Plan (SAP) is the regional roadway safety plan for the Memphis MPO planning area. The updated 2026 SAP provides a data-driven framework for reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries across the region. Guided by the Safe System Approach and Toward Zero Deaths initiative, the plan identifies crash trends, high-risk corridors, and targeted safety strategies for safer roads, safer speeds, safer people, and post-crash care. 

The draft SAP was made available for a 30-day public review.

Visit the MPO's Safety Action Plan webpage to learn more!

Check out the English and Spanish versions of our video about the Memphis Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Greenprint Plan! The video explains the purpose of the plan and highlights the progress made over the past 10 years.

Mitali Taraikar joined the Memphis Urban Area MPO as a Transportation Planner in June 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Mumbai and earned a Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) in 2025. Before moving to the United States, Mitali worked as an architect in India, contributing to residential, mixed-use, and large-scale development projects. Her experience included architectural design, site planning, consultant coordination, and construction documentation, which fostered a strong interest in the relationship among urban form, infrastructure, and community development.



During graduate school, Mitali worked as a Research Assistant in the University of Cincinnati's School of Planning, working on land use, zoning, transportation, and community development projects through GIS analysis, urban design visualization, and site planning. Following graduation, she continued working with the School of Planning as a Research Assistant, contributing to planning studies, spatial analysis, and development-related projects. She also completed a planning and design co-op with KZF Design in Cincinnati, where she contributed to zoning, multimodal transportation, and community planning projects, including the Springdale Bike and Pedestrian Connectivity Plan and the Hamilton County Ohio River Wayfinding and Signage Plan.

Her graduate capstone, Reimagining Childcare, received the 2025 American Planning Association Ohio Chapter Planning Student Showcase Award for its innovative approach to transforming underutilized urban spaces into accessible childcare facilities through community-centered planning and multimodal transportation strategies.

New Nail Road Extension Opens in DeSoto County

DeSoto County officials formally opened the recently completed Nail Road Extension in Olive Branch. The approximately two-mile extension connects to Center Hill Road and is expected to help improve local traffic flow while easing pressure on Goodman Road.

Hernando Secures Funding for I-55 Commerce Street Exit Improvements

Hernando has secured $5.7 million in funding to support improvements at I-55’s Commerce Street exit. The funding will go toward engineering costs for the long-awaited project, which is expected to help reduce congestion at one of the city’s busiest exits. 

Collierville 2050 Plan Highlights Community Priorities

Collierville officials shared a final report on public input for the Town’s 2050 comprehensive plan. Residents emphasized walkability, bike trails, green space, housing options, family-focused activities, and stronger neighborhood connections as priorities for Collierville’s future growth.

Lakeland Considers Roundabouts to Improve Safety on U.S. 70

Lakeland officials approved a corridor study exploring roundabouts and other safety improvements along U.S. 70. The study includes options for a multi-use path, median improvements, and safer crossings to help slow traffic, reduce crashes, and better connect neighborhoods along the corridor.

TDEC Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has released Round 2 of the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust. This funding opportunity supports public, nonprofit, and private fleets in Tennessee in replacing or repowering eligible older medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with alternate-fuel or all-electric vehicles, engines, or drivetrains. Eligible vehicle categories include Class 4–7 local freight trucks, Class 8 local freight and port drayage trucks, and Class 4–8 transit, shuttle, and school buses. A total of $4.3 million is available, with applications due August 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM Central.

Visit the MPO's Funding Opportunities webpage for more information on transportation funding opportunities available to eligible agencies and organizations throughout the Region.

April

1: Statewide IAC Call

8: Mobility Planning for the Aging Population

10: TDOT/MPO/FHWA Monthly Call

13: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Millington

14: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Germantown

14: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Bartlett

14: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Shelby County

14: Memphis City Council Transportation Committee Meeting

15: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Fayette County

15: TPG Scoping Meeting

16: Safety Performance Targets Committee meeting

16: Joint TDOT TIMS/Memphis MPO TOAC Virtual Meeting

16: Memphis Area Ozone Planning Call

16: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Southaven

16: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Hernando

17: TPG- Scoping Meeting

17: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Desoto County

17: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Horn Lake

20: TPG Scoping Meeting

20: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Olive Branch

20: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Arlington

21: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Collierville

21: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Lakeland

22: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – MATA

23: Project Status Virtual Meeting TDOT & Eco-Interactive

23: 2055 RTP Jurisdiction Meeting – Memphis

30: Mississippi Freight & Rail Advisory Committee Spring Meeting

30: Project Status Virtual Meeting TDOT & EcoInteractive

May

1: PM3 Statewide Targets meeting

5: Memphis Area BNSF Crossing Study Meeting

6: 2055 RTP TDOT Meeting

8: 2055 RTP MDOT Meeting

11: Memphis Area BNSF Crossing Study Meeting

13: Safety Action Plan Working Group Meeting

14: Project Status Meeting - TDOT & Eco-Interactive

20: Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting - Memphis

21: Safety Performance Target Meeting

21: Memphis Area Ozone Planning Meeting

28: Memphis Area BNSF Crossing Study Meeting

June

4: TDOT & EcoInteractive Project Status Meeting

8: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Downtown Transit Center

8: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Airways Transit Center

9: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Memphis Zoo

10: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Memphis Main Library

11: RTP Outreach Phase 2: M. R. Davis Public Library

12: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Agricenter Farmer's Market

18: RTP Outreach Phase 2: Collierville Farmer's Market

24: 2055 RTP & PM ETC Workshop #3

Webinars & Trainings

2: AMPO Safety Webinar

25: TN HTSR Toolkit Training

Upcoming Events

July 3 Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed

July 30 ETC/TPB Meetings

August 17-21 TDOT MPO Conference - MPO Staff Availability Limited

September 14-18 AMPO Conference- MPO Staff Availability Limited

Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

125 North Main Street, Room 450, Memphis, TN 38103

PH: 901.636.7190

memphismpo.org