Nashville mayor Megan Barry has proposed a $5.2 billion public transit and infrastructure plan that aims to better connect the city with surrounding Davidson County communities.
The plan is called Let’s Move Nashville. If approved, parts of it could go into place in 2019, with the final phase to be completed in 2032.
The plan will consist of adding 26 miles of light rail, four rapid bus routes and a tunnel under downtown Nashville.
Details include state-of-the-art electric buses, cross-town routes, buses running 20 hours a day with 15-minute peak service on the busiest routes; rapid bus service along Dickerson Road, Hillsboro Road, West End Avenue and the Bordeaux route; and a light rail network to begin operations in 2026, starting with the area’s busiest corridors along Gallatin Road, Nolensville Road, Charlotte Avenue and Murfreesboro Road to the airport. A light rail line using existing rails would run along the Northwest Corridor to Buchanan Street near Tennessee State University.
The proposal also includes four tax surcharges: new sales (0.5 percent), hotel/motel (0.25 percent), rental car (20 percent), and business and excise (20 percent.
Adoption of the plan requires voter approval, and the measure will be on the ballot in May 2018.
