Mayor Unveils Bold Transportation Plan in State of the City
In his first State of the City address on May 14th, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell laid out an ambitious $2 billion Transportation Improvement Program to overhaul the city's infrastructure for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders over the next decade.
Delivering his speech at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds, O'Connell reflected on growing up taking the bus to his minimum wage job and his desire to create more accessible, equitable transportation options for all Nashvillians.
"More people deserve to catch green lights more often when there's no traffic," O'Connell said. "More people deserve to get home on the bus after their late shift on time. More people deserve to walk to schools and small businesses without tripping on the shoulder."
The program includes:
86 miles of new sidewalks
54 miles of upgraded transit corridors
24/7/365 bus service with double the crosstown routes
New transit centers and park-and-ride facilities
35 miles of new/upgraded bike lanes
Traffic signal coordination upgrades across the city
"This is a game-changer for the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood," said Earnest Morgan, Wedgewood Houston Social. "Better sidewalks, more frequent buses, and safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists could drastically improve our quality of life and accessibility to the rest of the city."
The plan still requires approval from the Metro Council to go on the ballot for a public referendum on dedicated transportation funding as required by state law. O'Connell urged Nashville residents to stay engaged in the process.
The mayor also highlighted investments in affordable housing, public education, public safety and social services in his speech touting the "state of Metro as strong" despite challenges.
Be sure to attend tonight's Wedgewood Houston Social community meeting at 7pm at Jackalope Brewery to discuss the Mayor's plans and other neighborhood issues. Learn more at www.wehosocial.org.
