The knoxville regional human services transportation coordination plan identified several gaps in services in the knoxville urban area

The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration awarded the Knoxville Knox County Community Action Committee $2,482,535 on March 10, 2026, under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities formula grant program (CFDA 20.513) to address transportation gaps in the Knoxville urban area, where fixed-route mass transit and ADA-compliant paratransit cover approximately 25–30% of the service area, leaving 70–75% with limited demand-response options.

The award funds capital and operating projects distributed to sub-recipient nonprofits and human service agencies. Capital funding enables purchase of vans and minibuses to expand service throughout the urban area. Operating funds support volunteer-assisted transportation programs and expanded demand-response transit services that exceed ADA requirements. The projects implement mobility management strategies to coordinate existing services and expand transportation options for seniors and individuals with disabilities, enabling access to employment and community participation.

The period of performance runs through March 30, 2034, with place of performance in Tennessee.

Activities

This grant will provide the following activities:(1) five awards to five different non-profits and human service agencies to purchase eleven accessible minivans standard vans and sedans/suvs for expansion;(2) one award to provide mobility management services; (3) three awards to agencies for operating funds in which three agencies will provide volunteer assisted transportation services and one agency will provide demand response transportation services; and (4) administration funding to the knoxville-knox county community action committee to help manage the overall regional 5310 - mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities formula program. All of the operating projects are eligible in that they exceed the requirements of the ADA.

Expected outcomes

The human services transportation coordination plan identified several gaps in services in the knoxville urban area. Many of these gaps dealt with the lack of transportation options for seniors and individuals with disabilities in the community. One way the plan recommends accomplishing eliminating gaps is to provide capital funding to non-profits and human service agencies to purchase vans and minivans. This grant awards funding to five non-profits/human service agencies to purchase eleven vehicles: ten accessible vans and one non-accessible van. The federal life expectancy for all of these vehicles is four years. For this grant the eleven vehicles should provide approximately 75000 one-way trips over their federal life expectancy (four years) to seniors and persons who are disabled in the knoxville urban area. Most of the time these vehicles stay in service well beyond their four year federal life expectancy. The human services transportation coordination plan identifies as a critical need the funding of operating services for governmental agencies non-profits human service agencies and private providers to fill in the gaps of needed transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Most often this requires providing services through volunteer driver type programs (mobility management) and providing strategically located demand response transit services (outside regular fixed-route mass-transit service area and beyond ADA complimentary paratransit service requirements). The operating projects provide an invaluable service to seniors and individuals with disabilities in the knoxville urban area. The volunteer programs provide services for those who need that extra level of assistance often the frailest in the community. The driver accompanies the rider throughout the entire trip and can help them with certain activities such as carrying groceries or helping them to their doctors office (not just dropping off at curb). IT is projected the operating services funded through this grant will provide approximately 50000 trips. The programs are funded for 24 months for each agency.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of this grant are seniors and persons who are disabled in the knoxville urban area. This grant provides transportation services to seniors and persons who are disabled that might not otherwise have any other transportation options. Often the seniors transported are the frailest in the community and require an extra level of care. The persons who have disabilities most often are intellectually developmental and physically challenged. These transportation services help provide them access to therapy doctors appointments work and social opportunities. Without these transportation services most would be homebound. All of the operating projects are eligible in that they exceed the requirements of the ADA.

Subrecipient activities

Subrecipient activities:capital sub-recipient #1 sertoma center for the purchase of up to two accessible vehicles for fleet expansion. Sertoma center is a non-profit agency that serves adults with intellectual disabilities.capital sub-recipient #2 emory valley center for the purchase of up to two accessible vehicles for fleet expansion. The emory valley center is a non-profit agency supporting adults with intellectual developmental and physical disabilities. Capital sub-recipient #3 - ARC knox county - sunshine industries for the purchase one accessible vehicle and one non-accessible vehicle for fleet expansion. Sunshine industries is a non-profit that provides training for intellectual and developmental delayed individuals. Capital sub-recipient #4 knoxville-knox county community action committee (CAC) volunteer assisted transportation program will purchase up to two accessible vehicles for vehicle replacement. CAC volunteer assisted transportation is a public transportation program that serves seniors and people with disabilities throughout knox county. Capital sub-recipient #5 community options for the purchase up to three accessible vehicles for fleet expansion. Community options is a non-profit agency that serves intellectual and developmental disabilities. Capital sub-recipient #6 knoxville knox county CAC volunteer assisted transportation (VAT) program mobility management. CAC will provide continuing transportation counseling coordination and assistance in accessing transportation resources for seniors or individuals with disabilities.operating assistance sub-recipient #1 knoxville knox county community action committee volunteer assisted transportation program. The CAC will continue its VAT service that recruits volunteers to provide assisted transportation to seniors or individuals who are disabled that require an escort to medical appointments essential errands and non-essential trips for social and recreational purposes. All of the operating projects are eligible in that they exceed the requirements of the ADA.operating assistance sub-recipient #2 blount county community action agency smiles program. Smiles will continue its service that recruits volunteers to provide assisted transportation to seniors or individuals who are disabled and over age 60 that require an escort to medical appointments essential errands and non-essential trips for social and recreational purposes. All of the operating projects are eligible in that they exceed the requirements of the ADA. Operating assistance sub-recipient #3 east tennessee human resource agency. Ethra will provide demand response services for the seniors and individuals who are disabled throughout the urban area while concentrating service outside of knox county (outside fixed route and ADA complementary service area). All of the operating projects are eligible in that they exceed the requirements of the ADA.