The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) still hasn’t released an official shortlist for the I-24 Choice Lanes procurement, but is expected to do so in the near future. The procurement is running in parallel with the project’s federal environmental study, and a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) is expected soon.
As part of that evaluation process, TDOT held an early public information meeting and open comment period for the project, and more than 500 interested Tennesseans provided input. This was just the beginning: while TDOT has already provided the public information on the broad designs, alternatives, transit benefits and some impacts, another mandatory public consultation will happen once a draft EA is published for review.
The public comment-and-response consultation is a familiar but complex dance for environmental planners of infrastructure projects across the United States. TDOT got early-stage input from, and got to respond to, the ~500 Tennesseans who are (arguably) most interested in their I-24 project. The process is obviously very tedious, but there is value there for TDOT. Like any public works program, Tennessee’s Choice Lanes has vocal opponents and supporters. What do they think?
