New bus route could slash southeast Nashville travel times
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
A new crosstown bus route could shave an hour off some trips through southeast Nashville, where decades of population growth are driving a wave of public investments.
Why it matters: The expansion, which was approved last week, is the first new crosstown route funded through the Choose How You Move transportation plan.
The big picture: Route 73 will serve a rapidly growing part of the city. Antioch's population nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020, climbing from roughly 51,000 to 99,000, according to Metro Planning.
- A WeGo spokesperson tells Axios the crosstown connector was designed to link southeast Nashville's residential hubs more directly with nearby retail corridors, including the Tanger Outlet Mall.
- Officials hope doing so will open up more employment and shopping opportunities for WeGo riders.
How it works: The new route will let riders travel across southeast Nashville without first heading toward downtown and doubling back.
- Today, someone traveling from Nolensville Pike at Old Hickory Boulevard to Hickory Hollow must first ride into the city to transfer to another bus route that takes them back to the southeast.
- Route 73 will cut out that back-and-forth. WeGo says it could trim the same trip from roughly 90 minutes to 30, including waiting and transfer times.
The intrigue: More direct crosstown routes like that are a significant factor in WeGo's growth. Ridership on existing crosstown and connector routes jumped 26% last fiscal year, compared with an 11% increase systemwide.
Zoom out: This is the latest in a series of Metro investments made to accommodate southeast Nashville's explosive growth.
- The city opened the new Southeast Police Precinct last November and the 10-acre Mariposa Park in July.
- Construction is underway on an expansion of Mill Ridge Park, while Mayor Freddie O'Connell has proposed additional funding for a new Antioch elementary school.
What's next: Route 73 begins service Jan. 3. Buses will run every 30 to 40 minutes.
What we're watching: WeGo says the next new crosstown route, already in the works, will likely connect to the planned Donelson Transit Center, although the exact path remains undecided.