Nashville mayor’s transit plan clears final hurdle to be on November ballot

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It’s official: Nashville’s voters will decide whether to pay a higher sales tax for better transit options. The agency that oversees elections has agreed to put Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s transit plan on the ballot this November.

For months O’Connell has been pushing the “Choose How You Move” plan. Recently the Metro Council voted unanimously to send the plan to voters, and Thursday night the Davidson County Election Commission agreed. That means Nashville’s voters will decide whether the plan moves forward Nov. 5.

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O’Connell calls the roughly $3 billion referendum an all-access pass to making getting around Nashville easier.

“I’m committed to supporting a modern transportation system that reduces helps reduce Nashvillians transportation costs and helps us get where we need to go,” O’Connell said in a recent press conference.

So, what does the plan include? Breaking down the list:

• 86 miles of sidewalk improvements

• 12 community transit centers

• 54 miles of upgraded corridors

• A 24/7/365 transit system

• 17 new park & ride facilities, meant to offer free parking for wego customers

• 35 miles of new and upgraded bicycle facilities

• 600 traffic signal upgrades

Multiple people told News 2 they’re happy to see action from city leaders.

“It’s been way overdue. I think a lot of times they talk about it, but they really don’t do anything about it,” said Dana Richards, a WeGo rider.

“That’s my experience. They do a lot of talking, but they don’t do nothing,” another WeGo rider, Randy Morris, added.

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Others said they hope voters are in favor of the plan come November because it would make daily travel easier.

“Some buses don’t have routes for getting to places. Like, I go get my hair done and sometimes the buses don’t even go where I got to get my hair done so I have to get somebody to take me,” said Ellen Culp, who relies on public transportation weekly.

If voters approve the plan in November, WeGo officials said riders will see an increase in bus service and frequency almost immediately.

O’Connell’s plan would be funded through a half-cent sales tax, which he said would cost families about $70 more a year starting next February. Year one of changes will also include sidewalk construction, smart signal installations and likely the expansion of the 24/7 transit service, according to the mayor’s office.

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