Nashville airport announces fixes after rideshare requests caused "unprecedented" traffic jam
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Nashville International Airport said it is rolling out a series of fixes after a surge of rideshare requests caused traffic chaos that turned surrounding roads into parking lots.
Why it matters: The Sept. 15 traffic jam, which stretched on for several hours, exposed key weaknesses in airport infrastructure and road management that stranded many passengers.
- Some passengers ran down the shoulder of the interstate with their roller bags in a desperate attempt to make their flights.
State of play: In a report released Tuesday, airport officials said they had already made changes after the "unprecedented traffic event."
By the numbers: About 77,000 passengers traveled through the airport on Sept. 15. That barely cracks the top 100 days for passenger volume in the last two years, according to airport data.
Yes, but: A surprise rush of Uber and Lyft requests outpaced expectations, "creating extraordinary demand on the airport's roadway and ground transportation systems."
- Congestion continued from about 1pm-11pm. Requests came in waves and foiled airport staff's work to stop the slowdown.
- Passengers trying to leave the airport during the turmoil said rideshare fairs skyrocketed. Trips that typically cost $40-$70 jumped to more than $200, according to WZTV.
What they're saying: "Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) leadership is committed to ensuring that an incident of this magnitude does not occur again," the report said.
Zoom in: The report identified five "corrective measures" for the airport that might prevent similar gridlock in the future.
🚦 Boosting traffic staffing to strengthen responses during high-traffic periods.
🛜 Data sharing between Uber, Lyft and the airport to track request queues and guide surge responses.
🔍 A third-party review of airport roads and traffic patterns.
🔧 Tech upgrades, including improved real-time traffic measurements and predictive modeling.
🤝 Better coordination between the airport, law enforcement and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The intrigue: The airport said it has already made improvements. The report noted that four other days in the second half of September saw higher passenger volumes than Sept. 15, but there were "minimal traffic disruptions" on those days.
The big picture: Traffic quagmires have vexed travelers for years. The airport changed parking policies and invested in major construction projects to relieve congestion. That work is ongoing.
Between the lines: Fallout from the traffic jam is sure to color conversations surrounding The Boring Company's plans to build an underground tunnel between the airport and downtown Nashville.
- The company says the tunnel would help alleviate airport traffic, while critics say the company hasn't shown its work to substantiate those claims.