Farragut’s traffic system recognized with TML innovation award
The Town of Farragut was recognized for its traffic management efforts during the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Thursday, Dec. 11.
Houston Daugherty, president and CEO of Cannon & Cannon Inc., announced the town received the Innovation Award in August from the Tennessee Municipal League.
“We are very honored to have partnered with the town’s Engineering Department, bringing an advanced traffic management system to town,” he said.
Daugherty said the system has an estimated savings of more than $4 million annually in economic value from reduced driver delay and includes 12 miles of fiber that can be used not only for signals but also for future communications.
“All 26 signals now are connected to a central management system,” he said. “So, the town has taken a big first step toward really automatic traffic control as it’s moving into the future.
“Given all the population that’s moving here, it’s going to become more and more necessary,” Daugherty said.
The system also features radar detection at 23 intersections, which he said is more reliable than loop detection.
“It’s not affected by fog or rain or broken loops,” Daugherty said.
Pedestrians also were considered in the project, Daugherty said, with 11 new curb ramps installed along with other upgraded pedestrian infrastructure.
Daugherty presented Mayor Ron Williams with a framed copy of the Tennessee Municipal League article recognizing the project.
Williams also praised the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments for their work on Countdown to Light the Park at Founders Park at Campbell Station
and the skate rink at Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza. He also thanked the Arts and Beautification Committee for its
work on the town’s Celebrate the Season event and “all the participants and other folks who were involved in the third annual Christmas Parade.”
“This time of year, our staff goes all out to provide some special events that our residents look forward to,” Williams said.
Alderman Drew Burnette also recognized the committee that organized the Christmas parade.
“It’s gotten bigger and better every year,” he said. “At least a few of those ladies — Stephanie Thompson, Toni Scott, Julia Goodrich — and a bunch of other moms have poured their heart and soul into organizing this parade.”
For those who attended, “it was absolutely phenomenal, especially with Santa’s Village at the end,” Burnette said. “I’m very thankful for these ladies who put this on and hope they keep going.”
Alderman Alex Cain echoed Burnette’s comments, adding, “The parade was amazing … great turnout.”
Williams also noted the town’s tourism group hosted an open house at Campbell Station Inn.
“It was an opportunity for all our residents to come out and see the restoration of the inside of the house before we move in the furniture for it to become the welcome center,” he said.
The building will include a history room and event area on the main floor, with tourism offices on the second floor. The official opening is Jan. 8, 2026.
“I was at the open house the other day. The building is amazing,” Cain said. “The work we’ve done, keeping the character and history of it, too, of Campbell Station Inn.”
However, he added, “I don’t know if anyone else noticed it, but I could swear the building’s haunted, too.”
