Frame a winning message and urge elected representatives to fund transit.
Your advocacy today can ensure local elected officials know how important public transit is to you and why investing in transit is critical to the future success of our city and region.
Actions you can take right now:
Don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be an Oscar-winning moment. Just be clear on why YOU support transit.
- Talk to your local elected officials.
- email/call your councilmember plus the five at-large councilmembers
- attend a council meeting (tune in at 6:30 PM every second and fourth Tuesday night live stream to Facebook via Metro Nashville Network) to give public comment
- Give your name and address. Then you have 2 minutes to say you are for or against the bill being discussed and why.
- Tell your own story.
- share important transit news and updates on social media– be sure to note why you support transit and transit investments and #Transitisessential #FundTransit.
- Note, many elected officials are very active on social media like Twitter. Local council members tend to be very responsive.
- Submit a letter to the editor.
- Show and Tell.
- Invite friends on a bus ride with you. A group visit to the library, lunch, or sporting event is a fun and easy way to talk about the value of transit.
- Take a ride past an improvement project. There are several recent updates and proposed improvements to see in Nashville:
- Nolensville Pike has numerous transit stop updates
- Murfreesboro Pike signal prioritization
- Hillsboro High School mini-Neighborhood Transit Hub
- Neighborhood Transit Center at Clarksville Hwy and 26th Ave N (proposed)
- Host a neighborhood meeting to discuss transit and transportation concerns.
- Invite a community organization like the Transit Alliance or other community organizations to attend. These organizations can offer support, speak to guests about what’s happening currently, and even answer questions.
- Get participants to sign a letter supporting transit funding and/or send a letter to their councilmember and other elected representatives.
- Submit an op-ed for the local newspaper. Explain the importance of the transit system from your perspective or give ideas on ways to improve existing services and why.
- Bonus: if it’s published, share it with other elected officials: your council members, mayor, state legislators, and member of Congress (house and senate).
- Speak with local reporters about transit funding and illustrate the impacts of those cuts for riders and your community.