Tennessee Roadscapes Planning for Beautiful Highways

Public participation encouraged at Knoxville and Chattanooga meetingsNashville, Tenn.–The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will welcome public input at two upcoming meetings to discuss a new roadway landscaping initiative, aimed at improving the aesthetic appeal of Tennessee roadways to benefit community pride, economic development and statewide tourism.

The program, called Tennessee Roadscapes, will consist of a partnership between community organizations across Tennessee and TDOT to create inviting spaces through an integrated approach to roadside landscaping that improves the economy and quality of life.

One program in the Tennessee Roadscapes initiative will enable local city and county governments and community organizations to apply for federally provided funds to develop environmentally friendly landscaping projects along key roadways, in keeping with TDOT guidelines, for which public input is sought through these meetings.

TDOT hopes to gather as many perspectives as possible about programs to be included, such as tree planting, native plants, roadway project landscaping, scenic highways, litter prevention, grant programs, and other possible program elements.

• Chattanooga – Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, at the TDOT Regional Office, 4005 Cromwell Rd., Chattanooga, 37421
• Knoxville – Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, at the TDOT Regional Office, 7345 Region Lane, Knoxville, 37914

Meetings were held in Nashville and Memphis late last year.

Starting early in 2006, local city and county governments as well as civic groups such as garden clubs, chambers of commerce and development organizations will be able to apply for Tennessee Roadscapes partnership grants. More information about Tennessee Roadscapes can be found on the TDOT web site at www.tennessee.gov/tdot/roadscapes