Transportation Changes Coming to Chestnut Hill/Edge Hill Corridor
Wedgewood Houston Social Hosts Community Meeting, Provides Input on Protected Bike Lanes, Pedestrian Safety Upgrades
NASHVILLE, TN (May 15, 2024) – The Nashville Department of Transportation held a community meeting last night hosted by the Wedgewood Houston Social neighborhood organization to share proposed multimodal redesign plans for the Chestnut Hill and Edge Hill corridor. The meeting took place at the Chestnut Hill Path Community Center. The plans call for implementing protected bike lanes, improved pedestrian crossings, transit accessibility enhancements and intersection reconfigurations to create a safer, more equitable transportation corridor.
"With the significant residential and commercial growth this area is seeing, we have an opportunity to get ahead of projected travel demand by prioritizing smart investments in infrastructure that provides safe options for all modes," said Anna Dearman, Walking and Biking Program Manager.
A central element is installing protected bike lanes along the corridor by reconfiguring the existing vehicle lane usage through a "road diet" approach. One vehicle travel lane would be removed in sections that have excess capacity in order to create separated bike lanes with physical barriers from traffic.
Other key proposed upgrades include:
- High-visibility pedestrian crossings at locations like Humphreys St
- Redesigned intersections like Chestnut Hill & Ward Tremble for improved safety and predictability
- Bus boarding islands to allow transit access without obstructing the bike lanes
- ADA-compliant sidewalk improvements
- Incorporating green stormwater infrastructure elements like bioswales
Transportation analysis shows that road diets can actually improve vehicle traffic flow by reducing lane weaving and minimizing conflicts at intersections. Future traffic models indicate the redesigned corridor will have sufficient vehicular capacity even with sections being reduced to one travel lane in each direction.
"Over 50% of Nashville residents have expressed interest in biking more for transportation, but cited safety concerns as a major barrier," said Dearman. "Creating protected cycling facilities is critical to providing equitable mobility options."
Crash data also highlights a disproportionate number of incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists along the Edge Hill portion of the corridor, underscoring the need for safety improvements.
At the community meeting hosted by Wedgewood Houston Social, neighborhood residents provided feedback on the redesign concepts, discussing potential impacts like vehicle speeds, visibility of the new infrastructure, construction staging, opportunities for tree plantings and more. This input will help finalize the multimodal plans, which are being coordinated with multiple approved developments in the area.
Funding for the project's construction will come from a combination of sources, including $1 million contributed from seven nearby development projects. The proposed transit funding referendum on the November ballot in Nashville could also accelerate completion timelines if passed by voters.
The Chestnut Hill/Edge Hill corridor remake supports the city's goals for expanded, equitable transportation choices and safer mobility options for all modes. Community members are encouraged to continue providing feedback as the redesign plans advance by visiting nashville.gov/transportation.
Learn more about Wedgewood Houston Social, upcoming events and neighborhood news at www.wehosocial.org.
