Latest news with #KnoxvilleAreaTransit
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How long does it take? 6 News tests parking options at Covenant Health Park
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — With less than a week until opening day at Covenant Health Park, fans are planning their trips to downtown Knoxville. 'We're looking forward to this,' season ticket holder Michael Johnson said. 'We live actually on the other side of Oak Ridge so kind of really looking to forward to this much shorter drive.' What fans can expect at Covenant Health Park on Opening Day The team's new location has fans wondering where they will park to get to the stadium. There are several garages downtown that are less than a mile walk from the stadium, including the Market Square garage, Locust Street garage, Dwight Kessel garage and the State Street garage. 6 News tested it out. It took us 13 minutes to walk the 0.7 miles from the State Street garage to Covenant Health Park. What if you're not up for walking? Knoxville Area Transit is providing another option. 'We'll pick them up on Summer Place and we will provide transportation to them to the stadium on game days, and typically that shuttle starts about an hour and a half before games, on Saturdays it'll start two hours before games,' said Isaac Thorne with KAT. Knox County News Knoxville looks for new possibilities after science museum project loses funding The shuttle will run every 10 minutes. Fans will be picked up on Summer Place in between the Summer Place garage and the Langley garage. In each of these garages, you have the option to reserve a parking spot. During each game, there will be 450 spots reserved in the Summer Place garage and 650 reserved in the Langley garage. Fans can prepay $5 to reserve one of these spots, then walk down to the shuttle. The shuttle is also accessible if you park in the Market Square or Locust Street garages. A 6 News crew rode the shuttle, along with Johnson and his wife, during the shuttle's test run. 'We did pay for the parking over there in the garage,' Johnson said. 'So we definitely like that convenience, not having to think, 'where do we park?' and get down here and be in a panic. At least that we would know and have something established to be able to know we have a spot when we get there.' The shuttle ride between Summer Place and the ballpark took just over five minutes. No matter how fans plans to get to the game, they're ready to see the Smokies take the field in their new home. 'We're excited about being down here,' Johnson said. Headed to Covenant Health Park? Here's where you can park There will also be free parking in the West Magnolia Avenue parking lots and 70 free reserved ADA accessible parking spots in Old City Lot B across the street from the stadium. The Smokies' first game at the new park is scheduled for April 15. This game will air on WATE Channel 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pedestrian bridge to UT campus moving forward as Gay St. Bridge repair timeline takes shape
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Between the pedestrian bridge to the University of Tennessee and the ongoing Gay Street Bridge closure, bridges have become a hot topic in Knoxville. Mayor Indya Kincannon provided an update on both projects in an upcoming episode of Tennessee This Week. Following the announcement in February that the Gay Street Bridge won't reopen to regular motor vehicle traffic, city council approved $2 million for repairs to allow pedestrian and cyclist use by early 2026. Groundwork on a plan for a full replacement over the long-term is also beginning. South Knoxville business owners feel let down by bridge repair timeline 'We're starting the evaluations now for what that replacement bridge should look like, should it be in the same place, and what should the capacity be,' Kincannon said. 'We're going to do some traffic studies and analysis but first things first, fix the current bridge to the extent we can and that will buy us a little time as we plan for a long-term replacement.' Loadbearing assessments will also determine if emergency vehicles and Knoxville Area Transit buses could utilize the structure after the short-term repairs. Kincannon also dispelled notions that grant funding for the University of Tennessee pedestrian bridge project could be redirected to address the Gay Street Bridge. Tennessee plans to begin replacing G10 parking garage this fall 'The grants are very specific and they're for the places and things that where we've already evaluated,' she explained. 'The pedestrian bridge where we're partnering with the University of Tennessee has been a vision that the South Knoxville community has had for almost 20 years now. It's very specific to help revitalize that part of South Knoxville, the Vestal/ Scottish Pike area and be a key connector to jobs and opportunity to people who want to get over to the University of Tennessee.' The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the city a $25 million grant for the long-discussed pedestrian bridge to the campus while $20 million of state funds have been set aside for the project. Despite concerns that the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts may impact the federal grant, Kincannon said that both bridge projects are moving forward. Recent development of housing along the south waterfront where the pedestrian bridge landing will be provide an example of the project's potential to make a lasting impact. New Rail-to-Trail project hopes to spur growth in South Knoxville 'As more people come into that area, there's more ability to sustain businesses. Coffee shops, dry cleaners, restaurants, barbershops, whatnot. That's still a work in progress, the commercial activity, but the commercial activity follows the people so having more residential development there is really exciting,' Kincannon said. A timeline for the pedestrian bridge to the University of Tennessee campus has not yet been established. The progress also comes as university officials seek to create a Neyland Stadium Entertainment District. Tune in to Tennessee This Week on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. to see Kincannon speak in depth about the city's recent growth, the newly-released parking plan for Covenant Health Park, and much more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
