The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is expanding its longstanding HELP Program to include rural areas of the state, supported by a historic investment from Governor Lee and the General Assembly. This initiative allocates additional recurring general fund dollars—primarily from reallocating a portion of existing Tire Sales Tax revenue without raising taxes—to enhance infrastructure and transportation services. The new Rural Service Patrol will address critical safety gaps in rural interstates, where crashes tend to be more severe due to higher speeds, limited lanes and detours, and greater distances to hospitals. It aims to improve emergency response, reduce incident clearance times, and enhance overall roadway safety.

The expansion begins in Region 2 this spring and will cover all four TDOT regions by summer 2026, patrolling more than 870 miles of interstate. The program features around-the-clock operations, with active patrols from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on-call support overnight for major incidents. Services include motorist assistance (such as fuel, water, minor repairs, and roadside help), incident response (first aid, traffic control, queue protection, debris removal, and maintenance reporting), and coordination through TDOT’s Transportation Management Centers for quick, localized action.

Since its inception in 1999, the urban-focused HELP Program has assisted thousands of motorists in Tennessee’s major cities—Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis—while reducing congestion and boosting safety. The rural extension strengthens TDOT’s commitment to protecting lives and maintaining reliable highways statewide. Of the $80 million in new recurring funding, approximately $16.7 million supports the Rural Service Patrol. Following a competitive bidding process, the contract was awarded to **AutoBase, Inc.**, a national leader with over 25 years of experience, more than 600 employees, and a fleet of 400 patrol vehicles operating in 10 states.