ITS SmartWay Expansion
The purpose of the TDOT SmartWay system is to reduce traffic congestion, provide motorist traffic information, and to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and safety on Tennessee’s roadways. To meet the growing needs of motorists, TDOT is expanding the SmartWay system.
The following expansion projects are either under construction or under development to improve the currently fully-integrated intelligent transportation systems in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville.
| Location | Route | Length | Equipment |
| REGION 1 (Knoxville) | |||
| Knox Co | SR 115 LM 2.4 to LM 3.8 | 1.40 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
| REGION 2 (Chattanooga) | |||
| Coffee, Grundy, Marion Co | I-24 MM 93.6 to MM 110.2 | 47.8 miles | 16 CCTV 7 DMS 6 RDS |
| Hamilton Co | I-124 MM 0 to MM 2 | 1.40 miles | Relocate ITS Reposition RDS |
| REGION 3 (Nashville) | |||
| Davidson, Rutherford Co | I-24 MM 58 to 85.6 SR 840 MM 28 to MM 35.5 | 31.3 miles | 24 CCTV 9 DMS 7 RDS |
| Davidson, Sumner, Robertson Co | I-65 MM 96.6 to MM 110.2 | 16.6 miles | 9 CCTV 4 DMS |
| Davidson, Williamson Co | I-65 MM 57.6 to MM 76 SR 840 MM 50 to MM 57 | 25.4 miles | 15 CCTV 3 DMS 20 RDS |
| Davidson Co | I-24 / I-40 / SR 386 multiple locations | 4.95 miles | 4 CCTV 2 DMS 4 RDS |
| Wilson Co | I-40 MM 232 to MM 235 | 3.56 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
| Davidson Co | I-40 MM 205 | 0.40 miles | Relocate DMS |
| REGION 4 (Memphis) | |||
| Shelby Co | I-40 MM 16 to MM 20 | 4.53 miles | Add mainline fiber Connect existing ITS devices |
| Shelby Co | I-40 MM 20 to MM 25 | 4.00 miles | Add mainline fiber Connect exiting ITS devices |
| Madison Co | I-40 MM 82.1 to MM 87 | 4.57 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
| Madison Co | I-40 MM 78 to MM 80 | 1.62 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
| Madison Co | I-40 MM 78 to MM 80 | 2.14 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
| Shelby Co | I-55 MM 11 to MM 12 | 0.70 miles | 1 CCTV 1 RDS |
| Fayette Co | I-40 MM 28 | 0.68 miles | Conduit for future expansion |
MM = Mile Marker CCTV = Closed Circuit Television DMS = Dynamic Message Sign RDS = Radar Detection System
HELP Program Expansion
TDOT Announces HELP Program Expansion
HELP Program routes ultimately share the same boundaries as the rest of the TDOT SmartWay system in each of the four urban areas.
In 2014, TDOT received a grant through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Control program (CMAQ) to expand the Department's HELP program. The CMAQ program funds transportation projects that reduce air emissions from on-road sources (cars, trucks, buses). The HELP program helps reduce air emissions by removing minor incidents from the roadway, which relieves congestion and prevents vehicles from idling. The grant will provide $5.5 million over a three-year period, which will provide 21 new vehicles and 21 new operators statewide.
Below is a breakdown of the proposed expansion as it relates to each region. To view current HELP routes, please refer to the HELP Program materials under the Traffic Operations section of the TDOT website.
Region 1 (Knoxville)
Knoxville HELP currently consists of 14 highway response operators staffing four major established high-volume routes. The proposal of one (1) additional route will allow service to be extended along the I-40 corridor, where ADT ranges from 72,000 (extension) to 104,000 (existing route). The proposed route is as follows.
- I-40 west of Knoxville - extend coverage an additional 4 miles from mile marker 373 to mile marker 369 (Watt Road)
- I-40 east of Knoxville - extend coverage an additional 4 miles to end at Exit 398 (Strawberry Plains Pike)
The proposed extension would require one HELP operator and one truck per shift, for a total of three (3) additional operators/trucks.
Region 2 (Chattanooga)
Chattanooga HELP currently consists of 14 highway response operators staffing six major established high-volume routes. The proposal of one (1) additional route will allow service to be extended along the I-24 corridor, where ADT is in excess of 70,000. The proposed route is as follows.
- I-24 west of Chattanooga - extend coverage an additional 9 miles from the TN-GA state line to Exit 169 in Georgia
The proposed extension would require one HELP operator and one truck per shift, for a total of three (3) additional operators/trucks.
Region 3 (Nashville)
Nashville HELP currently consists of 24 highway response operators staffing six major established high-volume routes. The proposal of three (3) additional routes will allow service to be extended along two of the heaviest traveled corridors, where ADT is in excess of 90,000 vehicles per day. The proposed routes are as follows.
- I-24 east of Nashville - extend coverage an additional 23 miles from Exit 57 (Harding Place) to Exit 78 (SR 96) in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County
- I-65 south of Nashville - extend coverage an additional 13 miles from Exit 78 (Harding Place) to Exit 65 (SR 96) in Franklin, Williamson County
The proposed extension would require three HELP operators and three trucks per shift, for a total of nine (9) additional operators/trucks.
Region 4 (Memphis)
Memphis HELP currently consists of 19 highway response operators staffing five major established high-volume routes. The proposal of two (2) additional routes will allow service to be extended along two of the heaviest traveled corridors, where ADT ranges from 90,000 (I-40) to 150,000 (I-240). The proposed routes are as follows.
- I-40 and I-55 Mississippi River Crossings
- I-240 Loop
The proposed extension would require two HELP operators and two trucks per shift, for a total of six (6) additional operators/trucks.