FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jim McAteer, Nashville Area MPO 615-862-7204
Tim Rosenberger, Parsons Brinckerhoff 216-781-7808
THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL BETWEEN NASHVILLE AND MURFREESBORO:Speedy Buses, Speedy Trains, or Just More Lanes?Proposed Transportation Alternatives to be Discussed at Public MeetingsResidents, travelers, and business owners in the Southeast Corridor from Nashville to Murfreesboro will be given the opportunity to hear results and provide input on the costs and benefits of several transportation options currently being studied by the Nashville Area MPO. Several transportation options were evaluated in terms of how well they met the community needs and how well each performed in terms of cost, number of riders, distance from housing and jobs, construction costs and environmental concerns.
The transportation planning agency for the Nashville region (the Nashville Area MPO) will hold four public meetings to share with the public the results of the detailed transportation analyses and to hear comments on the alternatives studied and the criteria used to evaluate them.
The following four public meetings will include a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session (presentations will be repeated as needed during allotted time slots):
- Tues. July 18, 12‚ 2 p.m. ‚Nashville Downtown Library, 615 Church St., Nashville
- Tues. July 18, 6-8 p.m. ‚LaVergne City Hall, 5093 Murfreesboro Rd., LaVergne
- Wed. July 19, 6-8 p.m. ‚Rutherford County Courthouse, Murfreesboro
- Thur. July 20, 6-8 p.m. ‚Smyrna Town Centre, 100 Sam Ridley Parkway, Smyrna
Speedy Buses or Speedy Trains The study is currently evaluating four transit-based alternatives to improve travel in the corridor.
1. The first alternative includes an expanded bus service along I-24 that would connect transit stations in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Smyrna, LaVergne and various locations in Davidson County to downtown Nashville. Buses would use a combination of I-24 HOV lanes and dedicated bus- only lanes on Murfreesboro Road to make trips between Murfreesboro and Nashville.
2. A second alternative proposes commuter rail service from Murfreesboro to downtown Nashville, similar to the Music City Star rail service that will soon connect Lebanon and downtown Nashville. The commuter rail service would run on rail tracks constructed next to the existing railroad tracks in the corridor, which are owned by CSX Transportation, Inc.
3. A third alternative proposes Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on Murfreesboro Road and Old Nashville Pike. BRT is a high speed bus system that operates within its own travel way, separated from other roadway traffic. This option proposes constructing a combination of single (reversible) and dual bus lanes from Murfreesboro to downtown Nashville.
4. The fourth and final alternative consists of a package of lower cost bus improvements along I-24. The improvements are similar to those included in the first alternative, but would not include the exclusive busway.
These alternatives along with the evaluation process, costs and benefits will be discussed in full detail at each public meeting.
"As we plan for a mobile future, transit must be a consideration we take very seriously" said Jim McAteer, project manager and MPO transportation planner. "The MPO is especially interested in the public's comments and response to our analysis of the proposed alternatives."
All of the meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual with a disability who requires special assistance to participate in the reporting meetings should contact
Mr. Jim McAteer, Transportation Planner, Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, 800 2nd Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37201, Phone 615-862-7204, Fax 615-862-7209
Professional photographers, amateur photographers and kids are invited to submit photos that could be displayed on giant screens above the Chamber Orchestra at Schermerhorn Symphony Center!