Coordinator: UC Doing Well With Transportation

The Dale Hollow and Center Hill Rural Planning Organizations came together last week to discuss the transportation needs of the Upper Cumberland.

Center Hill RPO Coordinator Sean Patten said the meeting gave local officials the chance to share their needs with state legislators. Patten said the biggest takeaway was that everyone is on the same page and the Upper Cumberland is functioning well as a unified region.

“One of the big things that came out of it is a lot of different officials were very thankful of TDOT and the work that has been done in the past and currently going on,” Patten said. “Just reiterating that everybody is happy with the work that TDOT has been doing.”

Patten said there are always two RPO meetings each year but it was a new idea to meet with two organizations at once. Patten said the plan came about through UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley to get as many projects communicated to the state as possible.

“Everyone’s been pleased with how it’s going,” Patten said. “Just looking forward to things getting done in the future. Nothing specifically was given update-wise.”

Patten said the groups mainly considered transportation as a whole, otherwise they discussed specific ongoing efforts like the plan to widen I-40 on the mountain next to Monterey. Patten said it is important to discuss these projects so they can remain on the state’s timeline and get addressed in the future.

“So it’s made aware that our region isn’t forgotten in the state,” Patten said. “And that everybody, local officials, the public, everyone has a voice.”

Patten said there are always two RPO meetings each year but it was a new idea to meet with two organizations at once. Patten said the plan came about through UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley to get as many projects communicated to the state as possible.

“Everyone’s been pleased with how it’s going,” Patten said. “Just looking forward to things getting done in the future. Nothing specifically was given update-wise.”