Mayor Freddie O'Connell celebrates big week for Nashville's transportation future

Friday caps a big week for how Nashvillians move around the city today and in the future. More than 100 people joined Mayor Freddie O'Connell to cut the ribbon on the Dr. Ernest "Rip" Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center Thursday, the Biden/Harris administration announced a $4.7 million grant to upgrade and expand Nashville's network of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) announced its selection of 25 new traffic calming projects for fall.

Even before Nashvillians vote on the Choose How You Move transportation improvement program, these successes are evidence of 11 months of investment by the O'Connell administration in a better transportation system for all users, no matter how they choose to travel.

Under Mayor O'Connell's leadership, since October 1, 2023 NDOT has:

• Paved 131 lane miles of roadway
• Filled more than 33,500 potholes
• Installed 73 traffic calming projects with 25 more in progress
• Built nearly 12 miles of bikeways and initiated a new bikeway project on Demonbreun
• Completed 4.1 miles of sidewalk with several more projects underway
• Under Vision Zero:
  • implemented Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs), which are low-cost adjustments to signal timing, at 17 signalized intersections to improve pedestrian safety when crossing the street.
  • completed a bikeway and safety project along 31st Avenue, and
  • completed early community engagement and concept designs for the Gallatin Pike and Main Street complete streets project. Proposed designs will be presented in September.

In addition to the opening of its new Dr. Earnest "Rip" Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center, WeGo has continued work to improve access to high quality public transportation throughout the community:

• Implemented the crosstown Route 71 (Trinity), connecting North Nashville to East Nashville via Trinity Lane
  • Route 71 and an extension of Routes 9 (MetroCenter) and 14 (Whites Creek) connect through the new North Nashville Transit Center.
• Increased the span of service, days, and hours, on crosstown routes 75 (Midtown) and 77 (Thompson/Wedgewood)
• Extended service hours to 1:15 a.m. Monday through Saturday on the nine busiest bus and paratransit routes
• Improved service frequency on routes 7 (Hillsboro Pike) and 8 (8th Avenue South)
• Expanded the WeGo Link rideshare program to 13 neighborhoods, including Bordeaux, Burton Hills, Rosebank, Old Hickory, and Brick Church Pike, and 3 pilot zones for Adventure Science Center, Bell Road, and Opry Mills
• Completed the installation of the 300th sheltered transit stop
• Initiated discussions on the creation of a new transit center along Dickerson Pike
• Grew its Community Impact Partnerships to include free rides on home weekend games with Nashville SC, as well as new partnerships with the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, Urban Housing Solutions, the Nashville Zoo, and others
• Partnered with the Tennessee Titans, NDOT, and MNPD to offer four routes to Nissan Stadium on Titans game days and during major events like CMA Fest
• Graduated 114 operators from the WeGo Driver Academy and is preparing to graduate its inaugural class of the WeGo Mechanic Apprenticeship Program in October, including its first female mechanic.

"My administration is guided by the goals of improving quality of life and lowering the cost of living in Nashville," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "Improving our transportation system does both as Nashvillians will find more convenient transportation options and spend less time navigating antiquated infrastructure. I'm excited by the progress we stand to make if Nashvillians choose a better transportation future on November 5."

Shortly after taking office, Mayor O'Connell announced the formation of three transition committees which were each tasked with providing feedback on the opportunities for improvement that lie ahead. In November 2023, How Nashville Moves committee recommended pursuing a transportation referendum on the November 2024 ballot, and on February 15, 2024 Mayor O'Connell announced his intent to pursue dedicated transportation funding. Following a series of meetings with technical and community advisory committees, the mayor released the Choose How You Move transportation improvement program on April 19 and an independent financial audit of the program was completed in May. The Metro Council unanimously approved for inclusion on the November ballot at the July 16 meeting, and on August 1, the Election Commission voted to add Choose How You Move to the November ballot. The program includes improvements to sidewalks, signals, service, and safety with projects in every Metro Council district. To learn more and view an interactive map of the program, visit nashville.gov/transit.