Transportation upgrades coming for Nashville in 2025
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Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Nashville neighborhoods will begin receiving new sidewalks and synchronized traffic signals beginning early next year, Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced on the day after voters approved his $3.1 billion transportation plan.
- The half-cent sales tax increase, which takes effect in February, will fund those improvements.
Why it matters: O'Connell says he wants neighborhoods to reap the benefits of his plan, which won with 66% in support, as soon as possible.
What he's saying: "It is a historic moment for our city having secured dedicated funding and our team is ready to go," he said at a courthouse press conference yesterday. "Today we feel excitement because voters agreed we deserve a transportation system befitting a major American city."
Yes, but: "I do want to be clear, the changes will take time," he said, emphasizing the improvements will come over 15 years.
State of play: O'Connell said new sidewalk construction will be the simplest to begin. He expects that to happen in the first quarter of 2025. He also said neighborhoods will quickly begin seeing upgraded traffic signals, which will be controlled in a newly built command center to address traffic flow.
- New bus routes should roll out by the end of 2025 he said.
- Subsidized bus fares for residents receiving government nutrition or housing assistance will take effect within the first year.
- More ambitious projects, such as redesigns of the city's busiest roads, will take more time.
What we're watching: While pitching Choose How You Move, O'Connell told voters the city would be in line for $1.4 billion in federal funding if it created a dedicated funding source for transportation.
- He told reporters he doesn't think President-elect Trump's victory this week changes the city's calculation.
Behind the scenes: O'Connell announced the formation of a new community advisory group to provide feedback to city leaders about the plan's rollout. Updates will be provided to Metro Council committees "at least quarterly," O'Connell said.
- O'Connell is also planning to hire a new chief program officer to lead the Choose How You Move plan's implementation.