The city of Knoxville has a plan for parking on Union Avenue and will spend the next few months getting feedback about its proposal to restrict the street to one-way traffic.
City spokesperson Eric Vreeland told Knox News the city will continue to receive feedback from residents and business owners in the area, some of whom have shared concerns about access for their customers. Discussions will continue throughout 2026, he said, and could stretch into 2027.
The city conducted a traffic study on the block of Union Avenue between Locust and Walnut streets May 18-24 and documented an average of 341 daily westbound trips and 457 daily eastbound trips. The one-way proposal would convert the two-way street into a single westbound lane directing traffic toward
Locust Street.
The city's proposal, Vreeland said, includes one ADA-compliant space and 18 on-street parking spaces. Four of those would be free "15-minute Stop-n-Go spaces," which require people to turn on their hazard lights before running inside a business to pick up their order. Commercial loading zones also would be "strategically" placed along the road for convenient delivery space.
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Safety is top of mind for the city, according to Vreeland, who said traffic engineers have suggested a simpler pattern could reduce accidents involving pedestrians.
"We'll be continuing to encourage feedback and gauging people's preferences before any decision is reached," Vreeland said.
In addition to concerns from business owners, residents of Union Avenue apartments are worried about how they will exit their parking garage, navigate downtown and adjust their commute.
Attendees of a July 10 meeting between city officials, business owners and residents said the conversation was contentious at times, but they are open to continued discussions and are requesting additional traffic data.
Sophia Tiedge is the growth and transformation reporter for Knox News. Email: sophia.tiedge@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How would a one-way Union Avenue work? Knoxville shares parking plan | Exclusive
