Tracking Nashville’s Successful Resolutions
By Veronica Foster, Communications + Advocacy Manager
5 min read This is a critical update on the status of the 24 Resolutions for Nashville in 2024 that we assembled from community feedback earlier this year. Many of the Resolutions are dependent on the vote for the ballot measure regarding the Transit Improvement Program.
This past January, we unveiled 24 Resolutions for Nashville that we were striving to achieve by the end of 2024. There have been a number of successful resolutions and progress on several others, but November 5th will decide the fate of many transportation solutions for which we have been advocating. Early voting has just begun, and if you take away one thing from this blog, it should be how important it is to vote for the ballot measure which determines whether or not Nashville will be devoting a .5% of sales tax directly to our Transit Improvement Program, Choose How You Move.
Otherwise, if you have been making strides towards any of these resolutions, get in touch with us! Accomplishing these goals is a group effort, and we want everyone to stay informed.
CRITICAL
⚠️
CRITICAL ⚠️
Pass Dedicated Funding for Transit in November 2024
It’s on the ballot and it is up to our voters! We urge you to vote for the Transit Improvement Program Referendum, so we can bring 86 miles of sidewalks, 592 new and upgraded signals, 24/7/365 transit service, and 39 miles of Complete streets safety improvements to our city. Check out my op-ed in the Tennessean that gets into more detail!
Here’s the official ballot language:
Transit Improvement Program Referendum
Passage of this measure adopted by Ordinance BL2024-427, allows the Metropolitan Government to complete the entire priority sidewalk network when combined with annual capital spending, provide significantly expanded 24-hour public transportation service 365 days a year including frequent service on major routes, add more neighborhood transit centers, improve safety for all roadway users, and upgrade and modernize nearly two-thirds of the city's signalized intersections.
This program's capital cost is estimated to have a current cost of $3,096,000,000. Once construction is complete, the estimated value of recurring annual operating and maintenance costs is approximately $111,000,000. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (WeGo), Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure, Metro Planning Department, and Mayor's Office, in partnership with other Metro departments, will undertake implementation of the program.
This program will be funded by federal grants, revenues from transportation system fares, debt, and a sales tax surcharge of 0.5%. The tax surcharge will end once all debt issued for the transit improvement program has been paid and the Metropolitan Council determines by resolution that the revenues from the tax surcharges are no longer needed for operation of the program.
Break Ground on a Major Vision Zero Complete Streets Project
Status: DEPENDENT ON THE VOTE
Complete Streets Project for Gallatin/Main St. will be the first Transit Priority Lane All Access Corridor project in Nashville if the Transit Improvement Program passes on November 5th. We say that this project is dependent on the vote because while engagement on this project began before Choose How You Move was launched, the depth of the project increased with the plan. If the ballot measure fails, then we will likely only see safety and transit improvements on Main St and Gallatin from 5th Ave to Eastland. Instead of working on a piece-by-piece scale where we would have to get more funds from the Capital Spending Plan to complete the corridor improvements all the way up to Madison, we can vote for the Transit Improvement Program right now. With the funds from Choose How You Move, the work could begin as early as next year to improve safety along the whole corridor. Let’s keep up the momentum.
Increase frequency of the airport bus to every 18 minutes
Status: DEPENDENT ON THE VOTE
The #18 bus will increase its service based on Choose How You Move. It will still be considered a local bus, which means it will have an expanded service window from 4:30 AM to midnight, seven days a week. While this isn’t what we asked for, there will be a significant increase in service to the airport.
The #55 Murfreesboro Pike will have a branch to the airport, and so will #52 Nolensville Pike. These are both all access corridor frequent service routes, meaning a bus comes every 15 to 20 minutes during the day and every 20 to 30 minutes in the evening, 24/7, and 365 days per year. There will also be a new connector route that goes from Opry Mills to the airport, stopping at Donelson Station. There will be 4 bus routes that connect to the airport and 3 of those routes are also connected to Transit Centers that will have Park and Rides.
Vote for the Transit Improvement Program if you want this kind of access to the airport.
Add a Crosstown Bus Route through Antioch
Status: DEPENDENT ON THE VOTE
Antioch is in 37013, which is the most populous zip code in the state. This community is finally going to get the service access that it deserves if the Transit Improvement Program passes. Not only will there be a branch of the #55 Murfreesboro that goes to the airport, connecting jobs and travel to this population dense zip code, but there will be several crosstown routes dedicated to other Southeast Nashville / Priest Lake communities. There will be a connector route on Bell Road to get from the Antioch Transit Center to Nolensville and Old Hickory, which would offer a transfer to the frequent bus route, #52 Nolensville, and a huge number of restaurants and experiences located along that stretch. Technically, Antioch residents will also have access to Opry Mills Mall through a bus transfer at the airport.
Murfreesboro Pike will be an All Access Corridor, with transit priority lanes, so people in Antioch taking the bus will not be stuck in traffic for an hour or more. In fact, there will also be a new express bus for people traveling directly between Antioch and Downtown to decrease travel time even further for regular commuters.
If you live in or very near Antioch, voting for the Transit Improvement Program is essential to changing the way you experience transportation in out city.
Progress
🚏 🚲
Progress 🚏 🚲
Create free ride days to promote transit education
Status: SUCCESS
When the Tennessee Titans are playing at home, WeGo is offering free rides across Davidson County. You don’t have to be going to the game to utilize this perk and experiment with taking the bus, but we are thrilled that there is an incentive for Titans’ visitors to hop on the bus.
Implement supportive infrastructure for cyclists, especially commercial centers
Status: PARTIAL SUCCESS
The new parklet for Bagelshop in Donelson was the perfect opportunity for NDOT to install bike racks in the remaining square footage utilized by the parklet permit. NDOT has also begun installing more bike racks Downtown as a part of the Connect Downtown Plan. The Mall at Green Hills now has bike racks on the first level of the Ruby Deck and the management plans to install an additional rack next year. Early next year, they’ll have the specific timing on the installation. There is still more work to be done!
Submit a Hub Nashville request for bike infrastructure in your area.
Overhaul the zoning code to address the housing crisis
Status: PARTIAL SUCCESS
While there were a number of bills in Metro Council that would address our Zoning Code that desperately needs to be updated, many of them, including the duplex, triplex, quadplex allowance, were withdrawn until 2025. This is so that a report can be completed and delivered to Council.
However a few of these housing supportive zoning bills were passed!
BL2024-182: An ordinance to amend Title 16 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to clarify who may update the official website regarding issuance of permits and notices, amend requirements for washer and dryer hookups in single and two family dwellings, and remove the requirement for separate sex bathroom facilities at gas stations.
BL2024-184: An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to amend the definitions of multi-family and residence for handicapped, more than eight individuals; update references related to accessory building, detached, detached accessory dwelling, and detached accessory dwelling unit for consistency; add bar/night club as a permitted use in certain industrial districts; add daycare as a permitted with conditions use in certain districts, and to add a definition for half story related to contextual overlays
BL2024-187: An ordinance amending Section 17.16.030 of the Metropolitan Code, Zoning Regulations to amend the conditions for adaptive residential developments located in non-residential zoning districts where residential uses are permitted with conditions
Activate public parks through concessions kiosks and cafes
Status: PROGRESS
We have heard that activation of Riverfront Park and Country Music Hall of Fame Park might be in the works... but nothing has been publicly confirmed. This means there could be moveable seating, pop-up events, live music, game carts and more. However, coffee and food vendors being able to hold permits in public parks is still something that remains unsolved.
upsized playgrounds in parks t0 address the lack of activities for teenagers
Status: PROGRESS
Metro Parks has participated in several of the Nashville Youth Design Team’s (NYDT) activations and exhibitions that directly advocate for addressing the lack of activities for teens. Their willingness to be involved shows progress for this dire need. The NYDT also consulted with Imagine Nashville to advocate for youth voices to be included in the vision for our city. In the final report, a recommendation under the neighborhood identity priority specifically states Nashville needs to, “create and promote clean, safe ‘third spaces’ for youth ages 12-18 that are accessible on evenings and weekends.” This cites our NYDT’s advocacy for "up-size playgrounds,” so we are thrilled that the youth’s ideas are a part of an important platform for the foreseeable future.
Fully Fund Construction for the Future Park at Madison Station Blvd.
Status: PROGRESS
While the park itself is yet to be fully funded, the construction document stage is now funded, so HDLA will be able to move to the next stage on making this park a reality.
Ensure that all our outdoor spraygrounds and fountains are operational
Status: PROGRESS
Public Square Park has been under construction to fix the interactive water fountain, but this may not be fully solved until next Summer 2025.
Audit existing downtown wayfinding and update accordingly
Status: PROGRESS
Civic Design Center staff went on a large scale Downtown walk audit to locate all of the incorrect wayfinding. Most directional maps indicate the location of the old Nashville Convention Center, and they are all over the place. While we are submitting Hub Nashville requests to remove these signs, we encourage you to keep submitting your own Hub Nashville requests to expedite the process.
Turn the ugly overpasses into "Gates of the City"
Status: PROGRESS
We have cleaned out an area for Secret Sidewalk in the Sylvan Park area of Nashville. We have partnered with Nashville Design Week’s Community Design Project to create an activation that is waiting on approval. This should happen before the end of the year! Stay tuned for an opportunity to check this out with a little artist talk and brewery crawl.
Still More Work to Do
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Still More Work to Do 🚧
Make a comprehensive BCycle network—returning BCycle stations to parks
Status: STALLED
The Request for Proposals for bike infrastructure has still not been released. However, there have been sightings of dockless bikes in former BCycle stations in parks.
Paint a bus only lane in the downtown core
Status: NO MOVEMENT
We have done some visualizations for James Robertson Pkwy that wouldn’t interrupt the Connect Downtown Plan, and would improve the flow of the 56 bus between the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center and the first stop at 2nd Ave N. We are going to throw it in for a Tactical Urbanism Permit consideration.
Implement a Road Diet on 8th Avenue
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Tactical urbanism "face lifts" for buildings in the central business district that are vacant
Status: NO MOVEMENT
artistic crosswalks along Banker's Alley
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Create artistic public space under Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Status: NO MOVEMENT
quick build intervention that makes the Clarksville Pike bridge safer
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Increase Pet-Oriented Amenities like boxes dispensing free waste bags downtown
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Pass a new sidewalk ordinance that can withstand legal challenges and help build the sidewalk network we all deserve
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Identify innovative, pet-friendly transitional housing for people currently experiencing homelessness
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Pass a policy that requires our trash company to replace receptacles off sidewalk—Don’t block the sidewalk
Status: NO MOVEMENT
Again, please vote for the Transit Improvement Program when you get to the polls in the next couple of weeks, and also get in touch if you have any updates on the Resolutions that don’t have any movement!