Attendance
Walk Bike Nashville, GNRC, MPO, Vanderbilt Move VU, WeGo, Metro Planning, PATHE, STARS, LGBTQ+ Chamber, Thomas + Hutton, Boys and Girls Club, TNGOP, Lipscomb University, Network for Sustainable Solutions, and Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee
Results
What type of mobility / what type of projects are most crucial?
- Road widening-counter?
- Dedicated right of way transit (rapid, rail etc.)
- Sidewalks/walkability-unsafe
- Want to go-not safe to go-walk or bike
- Bus stops are not safe, lower speed
- Infrastructure to lower speed
- Cross country/regional collab. EX: option from Murfreesboro to Nashville
- Multi-modal- bikes, scooters, train- 1st/last mile
- Tunnels- unpopular
- Fare Box Recovery- free transit will increase use
- Ease of use-phone tap, tech focused
- Electric Vehicles
- Cross-community
- Everything has to connect to where people actually go
- What can we copy from scooters- make it convenient, safe, right in front of people
- Pedestrian- scale- even downtown doesnt feel walkable b/c of roads, lack of sidewalks, speed
- Design standards for roads e.g. medians
- It seems like bus frequency + connectivity is a high priority project
- Whatever mode of transportation options there are, the different modes need to have coordination
- Something that expands and coordinates together… goes around the city in a big loop that goes around the city- regional coordination with WeGo Link
- Continuing Transit education + shifting opinions about taking the buses/transit
- Equity by being inclusive for all neighborhoods in Nashville
- Bus Rapid Transit + priority bus lanes
- Support for aging populations, Wheelchair users, strollers, kneeling buses
- Providing access to individuals who may not be enrolled in paratransit services rides to polls
- Curb structures; more level boarding stops; cars blocking curb
- Guarded bike lanes, two lanes of traffic, ‘mid block’ crosswalks, updated bus stops
- Complete Streets like we see being developed in 12 South
- 3rd ave + commerce street guarded bike lane + lane shift between 3rd + 8th on commerce
- Deaderick St. (1st complete street) 51st avenue
- Shows the narrative of progress
- Signage for drivers + education
- Geo-fenced speed zones
- Roundabouts
- Essential infrastructure such as sidewalks, safe crossings, etc.
- Tax base should be emplored-dedicated structure (re-examine city priorities such as proposed Stadium vs water/transit/trash/recycling- essentials)
- Events that show behavior change or do hand holding to get over challenges/ initial barriers
- Micro-transit (on-demand shuttle)
- More connector services and mini-hubs so don’t need to go to DT
- Gather data to inform route improvements and prioritize corridors
- People-centered projects that meet essential needs (Ex: walking point A-B)
- Very visible project that sets an example (Hillsboro High Transit Center)
- Keep it simple- do things we know we can do (ex: dedicated lanes)
- Create induced demand for bus (ex: free bus pilot/event)
How can Transit Alliance support your work and bring transit to your groups?
- Identify specific structural changes/ projects that need to be implemented (based on community input/feedback) from existing surveys
- Signage for drivers for safer pedestrian/ bike usage
- Improving regional transit access
- Support more Park + Ride lots
- Elmington Park 2-hour parking only behind a bus stop
- Support lower speed limit policy
- Support kids/after school transportation / transit education / partnerships
- Reach out to outside urban core to help partner + educate the smaller communities to help change experiences/ opinions
- Support private/public partnerships to support lower costs
- Help coordinate the different entities + create a whole coalition
- Advocate for better transit + help bring more groups together
- Show a grand vision with prototypes / tactical projects
- Transparency around what happens
- More discussions similar to this one. Get more people here / offer free bus pass
- Everyone needs to collaborate and align on common goals/ projects
- More opportunities to talk in small one-on-one convos
- Cover basics
- Example projects
Leave us with a few closing thoughts.
- It seems there’s a need for common ground between neighborhoods, neighboring cities, and community groups.
- Nashville doesn’t want to lose Authentic Nashville to the growth, although there’s a need for better transit as people + companies continue to cause rapid growth.
- Transit + Housing sectors need to work together.
- Do something now- implement
- Be serious and invest
- Action-small stuff. (Signals, etc.)
- Show it can be better
- Affordable housing is essential to transit accessibility + mobile workforce.
- More conversations like this should happen with the general public.