Shelby Ave is Still Unsafe
Imagining a Safer, Smarter, and More Accessible FutureBy Frankie Stabile, Historic Edgefield Community Member
5 min read The intersection at Shelby and S 9th St is dangerous for all forms of transportation due to poor visibility and lack of traffic calming, and improvements like signalized lights, crosswalks, and better coordination with nearby streets are necessary to enhance safety and accessibility.
Shelby and S 9th St is an incredibly difficult intersection to navigate no matter what mode of transportation. The crest of the hill restricts visibility for cars, bikes, and pedestrians trying to cross or enter traffic lanes. Evidenced by the numerous crashes at this intersection over the years I have lived nearby. Luckily none have been fatal.. yet. The lack of traffic calming at S 9th also creates a dangerous situation at the S 8th St intersection where cars, bikes, and pedestrians have equal trouble with crossing and entering traffic lanes.
Taking a broader look at Shelby Ave from S 5th to S 14th streets we find the signalized intersections are inconsistent. Existing lights at S 7th and S 11th leave four blocks with no traffic-calming infrastructure and the steepest and longest hill of this stretch. The signalized light at S 11th St slows traffic through a set of blind hills. The four-way stop at S 14th St creates traffic calming and a safer intersection with the hill from 12th to 14th. The collisions are low and pedestrian safety is high at these intersections due to this infrastructure.
Now is the time to fully address this corridor. A safe crossing at Shelby and S 9th would dramatically improve safety and accessibility for all modes. It would also close the gap on a key connection from S 14th St to S 5th St as every other intersection along this route is controlled by a four-way stop.
Proposed improvements:
Signalized traffic lights at S 9th
Crosswalks at S 9th
Signalized crosswalks at S 8th
Protected bus stop at S 8th with more visibility.
Coordinate with S 10th improvements.
To address funding pushback; remove the light at S 6th and relocate to S 9th. Make S 6th a right turn only.
Design Center Visions
By Eric Hoke, Design Director + Remi Lynch, Landscape Planning Associate
Visualization to help realize a safer future for 10th and Shelby from a blog by Daniel McDonell.
Investing in infrastructure on Shelby Avenue is essential for enhancing safety, accessibility, and community connectivity. Daniel McDonell's blog, Surviving Crossing the Street Shouldn’t Be a Feat, sheds light on the dangerous conditions at the 10th Street intersection, where poor visibility, speeding, and a lack of traffic control have resulted in frequent crashes and serious pedestrian injuries. Frankie’s concern about the same area 2 years later underscores the growing demand for pedestrian-focused improvements. Proposed solutions include narrowing lanes, adding crosswalks, installing traffic signals, and implementing traffic calming measures to reduce accidents and improve safety for all users. These changes would not only protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers but also improve access to key parts of East Nashville, supporting the city's Vision Zero Action Plan to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.
Image showing a map of the Choose How You Move Program's effect on Shelby Ave
These community-driven recommendations align with Metro Nashville’s Choose How You Move Transportation Improvement Program, which includes upgrades to the WeGo #4 Bus Route that runs along this corridor. Addressing these issues would transform Shelby Avenue into a safer, more connected community hub.
The above images show ideas for specific intersection designs from 7-9th St on Shelby.
While Shelby in not considered an “All Access Corridor” by the Choose How You Move program, we should consider improving the overall design of Shelby Ave in East Nashville has the potential to significantly enhance public transit options, reduce traffic congestion, and increase safety for all types of road users as this is a transit-ready street. Implementing dedicated right-of-way solutions, such as bus-only lanes alongside a well-structured Bus Rapid Transit system, would allow buses to maneuver and operate more efficiently, particularly in the frequently busy high-traffic areas stretching from S 5th to S 10th streets. Moreover, implementing protected bus stops, especially at key intersections, would greatly improve accessibility and ensure a smoother flow of traffic for both buses and other vehicles. In addition to these changes, the inclusion of pedestrian refuge islands in the median would provide safe and convenient crossing points for pedestrians, improve overall accessibility, calm surrounding traffic, and encourage more individuals to walk, thereby further promoting a sustainable and people-friendly corridor that meets the needs of the community.
In conclusion, investing in infrastructure improvements along Shelby Avenue is not just a matter of convenience but of public safety and community well-being. The dangerous conditions, particularly at intersections like 9th Street and 8th Street, highlight the urgent need for traffic calming measures, improved visibility, and better pedestrian and transit access. Implementing proposed changes such as updating signalized lights, crosswalks, and protected bus stops will address these safety concerns while supporting broader city initiatives like Vision Zero and the Choose How You Move program. These enhancements could transform Shelby Avenue into a safer, more accessible, and connected corridor, promoting sustainable transportation and fostering a vibrant community atmosphere for all road users.
Corridor design options for Shelby Ave