As a city that’s smaller than places like Atlanta or Nashville, easy commutes have been a selling point for Chattanooga — and leaders want to keep it that way. Even as the city grows in population, they want to keep commutes for most people to 20 minutes during off-peak hours.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press’ Allison Shirk Collins has an in-depth article on the topic — including numbers of area residents who commute, details about infrastructure challenges and recommendations about providing access to other options, from walking to ridesharing.
Some highlights:
- 44% of people who work in Hamilton County commute from outside the county
- In 2016, about 120,000 vehicles came through downtown Chattanooga each day via Interstate 24
- 82% of people drive to work, while only 2.1% walk
A new report — a product of the Velocity 2040 community envisioning process — outlines the idea that owning a car “is not a requirement to participate in the economy.”
To handle the 1.4 million people who move throughout the region, the report describes ideas such as large employers adjusting start/end times so people can avoid rush hour and alternative transportation options such as innovative express buses.
Whether you have a 5-minute walk or a 45-minute drive, we want to hear from you about your experiences commuting. Take the poll and email hello@noogatoday.com
