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The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) board meeting on October 28, 2026, approved the agenda and passed a motion advancing proposed bylaws revisions on first reading; the revisions are scheduled for another vote at a future meeting. The board received a presentation on a TASCER study estimating a current Tennessee transportation funding gap of about $1 billion annually, potentially growing to $2.5 billion, and reviewing revenue options including fuel and registration fees, other fees, public-private partnerships, and borrowing. The study discussed a possible $10 billion borrowing scenario over the first 10 years, but the board made no funding or procurement decisions. Members were told that the Transportation Improvement Program requires reconciliation and is expected to come before the board for important votes in December to keep projects moving.

The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority presented capital project updates at McGhee Tyson Airport. A security screening checkpoint expansion is expected to begin construction in January and open around July or August 2028, expanding the area from roughly 6,000 to 20,000 square feet; a runway rehabilitation is underway and is expected to reopen by December. The airport also described a partnership in which it funded and installed screening equipment for TSA, increasing lane capacity by about 30%. No contract awards, vendor selections, or specific project spending approvals were reported.