NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville voters will now have the final say on a massive transportation project.
Tuesday night, city council unanimously approved Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s ‘Choose How You Move’ initiative. the project includes a 24/7 transit system, 86 miles of sidewalk, and traffic signal upgrades.
“Some of our most deadly intersections in the whole state are on Dickerson Pike,” said Eric Hoke, design director at the Civic Design Center.
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Hoke, with Civic Design Center, has been working with the state to find safety solutions for pedestrians by implementing a colorful sidewalk and pedestrian refuge islands. However, he said more needs to be done.
“Unfortunately, we lose a number of people every year in pedestrian collisions,” said Councilmember Sean Parker (District 5).
Parker said Mayor O’Connell’s transportation improvement program not only addresses pedestrian safety, but traffic congestion and accessibility.
The initiative includes adding 86 miles of sidewalks, 54 miles of upgraded corridors, and updated traffic signals.
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“Signals are a very important aspect we would upgrade two-thirds of the signals to be smart signals so it’s connected to a traffic management system,” Parker said.
The plan also looks to meet the needs of those without a vehicle through a 24/7 transit system.
“A majority of Nashvillians drive, most Nashvillians are going to continue to drive but for folks who aren’t able to drive we need them to have access to our city too,” Parker said.
Voters will decide whether to give the project final approval in November. Back in 2018, voters rejected a transportation plan that included a light rail system.
“And that’s really been the foundation of this plan which is overall a less expensive plan and reaches further across the city and doesn’t focus on these specific corridors,” Parker said.
In 2018, the plan called for an additional full cent sales tax. O’Connell’s plan would be funded through a half-cent sales tax. Mayor O’Connell has said in the past it will cost a typical family about $70 more a year.
On top of that, the city will receive federal funding. “Estimates are as high as a billion dollars if we implement this plan,” Parker said.
To learn more about the project head to nashville.gov/transit.
