Quarterly Newsletter - September 2024

The Memphis MPO is excited to officially kick-off the development of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)! The TIP is a four-year, fiscally constrained, short-range program, which provides a prioritized list of multi-modal transportation projects within the Metropolitan Planning Area. The TIP is developed collaboratively with local governments, transit and transportation agencies, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). The FY 2026-29 TIP is scheduled to be adopted in 2025 and there will be opportunities for public input throughout the development process! For more information, check out the quick video below or visit the Memphis MPO's FY 2026-29 TIP page.

Observed Crashes Dashboard

The Memphis MPO is pleased to share a new web mapping application using Esri Online's Experience Builder! The Memphis MPO Observed Crashes Dashboard will allow users to interactively view vehicle crashes that have occurred within the MPO area over a rolling five-year period. The data is viewable at an individual jurisdiction level. Crash data used in the application is sourced from Tennessee Integrated Transit Analysis Network (TITAN) and Mississippi Safety Analysis Management System. The dashboard can be viewed by visiting the MPO's interactive map webpage!

New MPO Staff Members

Sagorika Zannat joined the Memphis Urban Area MPO as a Transportation Planner in July. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and completed an internship at a leading design firm in Bangladesh. In 2022, she moved to Memphis to pursue a Master's in City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis, where she also earned a Geographic Information Science (GIS) certification to enhance her geo-spatial analysis skills. In her final year of study, she served as a Housing and Community Development Fellow at BLDG Memphis, where she supported the development and redevelopment of healthy, vibrant, attractive, and economically sustainable neighborhoods through policy advocacy and community engagement in the Memphis region. Her experience encouraged her to join the Memphis MPO as a Transportation Planner to make meaningful contributions to the process of establishing a system that is fair and sustainable. Her work at the MPO will primarily focus on safety planning.

Keiaron Randle joined the Memphis MPO as a Transportation Planner in August. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Baylor University. After which, she spent two years in the Memphis area working as an elementary school teacher. She then obtained a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. During her graduate studies, Keiaron interned with the City of Detroit in the Planning and Development Department and the Mayor's Office, gaining insights into municipal government, commercial development, and the impact of special events on local resources. For Memphis MPO, Keiaron will focus on transit, bicycle, and pedestrian planning.

Recent Headlines

Memphis and Germantown awarded SS4A funding

Memphis awarded $13.1 million from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program, to redesign a dangerous intersection at Lamar Avenue, Kimball Avenue, and Pendleton Street, improving safety with new traffic signals, pedestrian facilities, and road geometry adjustments. Germantown awarded $1.5 million to update an action plan and conduct safety demonstration activities. Both projects utilized Memphis MPO's Safety Action Plan, visit the here to learn more.

Speed humps working in Southaven

Southaven officials report that speed humps installed on streets like Snowden Lane and Baird Drive are effectively reducing traffic speeds and improving safety, with more requests for their installation expected.

Officials dedicate Hubert Ingram bridge in Byhalia

On August 22, officials dedicated a bridge on State Route 309 in Byhalia as the "Hubert Ingram Memorial Bridge" to honor Ingram's significant contributions to the local community and his service during WWII.

Roundabout approved for Lakeland intersection

Lakeland will soon get a new single-lane roundabout at Seed Tick Road and Memphis-Arlington Road, replacing the problematic four-way stop. The project, funded largely by a grant from Memphis MPO, aims to improve traffic flow and enhance safety at the busy intersection.

First look at Memphis International Airport's terminal modernization design

Memphis International Airport is starting a major terminal modernization project, with the demolition of Concourse A marking the first step. The $653 million project will revamp Terminal B and other areas, aiming to improve passenger experience and accommodate future growth, with completion expected by 2030.

I-55 bridge project: $394M federal funding secured for rebuild over the Mississippi River

A $394 million federal grant has been secured for the rebuild of the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River, with construction set to begin in 2026. This funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, covers a significant portion of the project's estimated $800 million to $1 billion cost and marks a historic transportation investment for Tennessee.

How many people have visited Tom Lee Park? Memphis River Parks Partnership gives update

Memphis River Parks Partnership officials highlight that Tom Lee Park has attracted 700,000 visitors from over 182 zip codes since its opening, with 57% using alternative transportation. They also announced the upcoming addition of the Memphis Flyway, a Mississippi River overlook set to be completed by 2026, and the initiation of fundraising for the "River of Time" renovation project at the Mississippi River Museum.

Program & Funding Opportunities

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program

TDOT has opened its FY 2025 Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) application cycle. The Transportation Alternatives Program has provided funds to hundreds of communities since 1991 across the Volunteer State to build sidewalks and bike lanes, update ADA accessibility, and renovate historic transportation facilities and other transportation-related structures. Approximately $10-20 million is available statewide, and applications are due October 4, 2024. More information on TDOT's TA Program can be found here.

Community Change Grants Program

The Environmental and Climate Justice Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Community Change Grants Program supports community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. Approximately $2 billion is available nationwide, and applications are due November 21, 2024. More information on the Community Change Grants Program can be found here.

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