Metro Council Forwards Transportation Plan to Nashville Voters in November

NASHVILLE, TN – In a decisive step towards improved urban mobility, Metro leaders gave their nod of approval to Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s ambitious transportation vision on Tuesday night. This crucial endorsement funnels the issue to the ballot, wherein Nashville voters will decide its fate this coming November.

What Comes Next?

Mayor O’Connell’s plan now awaits an approval from the election commission to solidify its place on the ballot. If greenlit, this transformative initiative could precipitate a considerable expansion of the city’s sidewalks and a comprehensive modernization of its traffic and transit systems.

The Transportation Strategy in Detail

The comprehensive transportation program—tagged ‘Choose How You Move: An All-Access Pass to Sidewalks, Signals, Service, and Safety’—was unveiled in April as an assertion of Mayor O’Connell’s commitment to creating “walkable neighborhoods”. Among the proposal’s ambitious initiatives is the envisaged addition of 86 miles of new or improved sidewalks, a 50% increase in total.

The plan also anticipates improved public transportation, including an expansion of bus rapid transit routes on high-traffic corridors. Other envisioned advances include the creation of more transit centers and the modernization of nearly 600 traffic lights city-wide.

The Financial Implications

However, this leap towards a more manageable and livable cityscape does not come without considerable financial implications. Construction costs for the rollout of the proposed upgrades hover around $3 billion. However, when taking into account necessary financing, operational expenses, and other related costs, the ten-year projection suggests a need closer to $7 billion in tax revenue.

Mayor O’Connell intends to finance the plan by implementing a sales tax increase, wherein every $50 spent will see an additional contribution of 25 cents. This proposal offers a comprehensive approach to managing the rapid population influx currently experienced by the city. As such, the ultimate sign-off on this initiative now rests in the hands of voters.

Program Highlights

The ‘Choose How You Move’ program is structured around four key pillars: Sidewalks, Signals, Service, and Safety. The scale of projected works within these categories is extensive—fielding 86 miles of additional sidewalks, 600 upgraded traffic signals, 54 miles of high-capacity All-Access Corridors, 285 bus stop enhancements, 12 new transit centers, and 17 new Park & Ride facilities—even expanding the WeGo Link countywide to connect rural areas of Davidson County, thereby improving safety and efficiency across the transport network.

Sidewalks

The accelerated implementation of additional sidewalks will focus on connecting Nashville’s most bustling neighborhoods to major traffic routes. This strategic move will facilitate increased safety and accessibility for pedestrians across the city’s busiest districts, while also attempting to resolve abrupt and inconvenient sidewalk gaps.

Signals

The introduction of smart signals to major routes is expected to revolutionize overall traffic management, elevating the efficacious flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic through advanced adaptive technology.

Service

Stemming from a goal to improve services for high-traffic routes, the plan anticipates installing more buses, providing enhanced sidewalks, and improving signals and safety conditions. The plan also calls for exclusive lanes for transit to improve access and efficiency.

Safety

Maintaining safety is paramount. Thus, the plan also proposes to decrease accidents with the help of ‘Complete Streets’ projects and improved sidewalks, bikeways, and enhanced crossings, ensuring the safety of all road users.

The decision on funding for ‘Choose How You Move’ will be made by Nashville voters this coming November.