Nashville’s Streets Getting a Makeover with Tactical Urbanism Projects
Hey there, Nashville! Exciting news is coming out of the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) that’s bound to bring some positive changes to our beloved city’s streets. They’ve just announced the winners of the first cycle of their Tactical Urbanism Program, and it looks like we are in for a treat!
What’s Tactical Urbanism, Anyway?
You might be wondering what this fancy term, Tactical Urbanism, even means. Well, it’s really all about community-led initiatives that aim to enhance our neighborhoods in a direct and immediate way. Think of it as short-term, temporary improvements that can lead to real change without breaking the bank. These projects can beautify an area or test out new designs on our roads using low-cost materials.
Examples of what these projects might look like include things like making sidewalk zones more accessible, sprucing up crosswalks, and even adding traffic calming measures such as traffic circles and pedestrian refuges. The idea is to give local folks a chance to see their ideas come to life almost overnight!
More Projects Than Expected
Originally, NDOT planned to support four projects in this first cycle. But due to an overwhelming response and a plethora of strong applications, they’ve decided to boost that number to an impressive 14 community-led projects. How fantastic is that? Each of these talented group leaders will receive up to $20,000 to bring their unique ideas to fruition!
A Focus on Safety and Community Needs
The awesome part about these projects is that they’re not just about making our streets prettier. NDOT is hoping that by facilitating these community projects, they can lead to more permanent roadway designs that truly reflect the needs of the people living there.
Matthew Cushing, who manages the Tactical Urbanism Program for NDOT, pointed out that these projects allow community members to have a voice and experience quick benefits in their own neighborhoods. He remarked, “Tactical urbanism projects can be installed much more quickly than traditional roadway projects, while still leading to improvements in safety and function.” How cool is it that change can happen fast?
Testing New Ideas Risks-Free
One of the nifty aspects of tactical urbanism is that since these are temporary installations, they offer a low-risk environment to test out new designs. If something isn’t quite working out, adjustments can be made swiftly based on real usage. This means that our roadways can be more user-friendly, thanks to community feedback.
Get Involved!
If you’re part of a community organization or a neighborhood group and have a great idea you want to turn into reality, there’s still hope for future projects! Interested parties can check out the Tactical Urbanism Guide to familiarize themselves with design guidelines, and there are opportunities for pre-application consultations.
Keep an eye on NDOT’s announcements, as they will reveal more details about future calls for projects at the start of next year. If you have questions about tactical urbanism projects or want to report any non-emergency issues affecting a Metro Nashville street, don’t hesitate to reach out at tactical.urbanism@nashville.gov.
Exciting Times Ahead!
With all these changes on the horizon, it’s clear that Nashville is headed toward a more community-focused approach to urban design. Whether you’re walking, biking, or driving, these new projects could make a significant difference in how we navigate through our city. So let’s stay tuned to see what exciting updates come from the Tactical Urbanism Program and get ready to embrace a safer, more beautiful Nashville!
