Since moving to Nashville two years ago, when my mind was filled with Time Magazine-fueled visions of country music and a glittering, growing metropolis, I’ve gotten a reality check. Among other unhappy surprises, I’ve discovered casual bigotry abounds, the southern hospitality I’d experienced as a tourist is a facade, and gut-wrenching poverty lives just beneath the media-approved surface. But of all the horrors I’ve encountered here, the one I hear about most is the traffic. There are just too many cars here, and public transportation is a joke.
Dealing with traffic was one of the challenges Mayor Megan Barry heard about from voters constantly during last year’s election, and, happily, she is addressing it. In line with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ assertion that solving society’s problems will require input from We The People, Barry is asking for Nashvillians to get involved in improving the situation. The following is a plea she sent out today:
Every day, I am asked what Metro Government is doing to reduce traffic and increase transit options.
Nashville MTA/RTA has created three possible scenarios for our nMotion2016 plans based on community input:
Scenario 1: Comprehensive Regional System
Scenario 2: Bus-Focused Expansion
Scenario 3: Modest Improvements
I want to commend MTA/RTA for the deliberate way they have conducted the nMotion strategic planning process thus far. The people of Nashville and throughout this region are very interested in exploring new strategies for mobility, and nMotion is laying out the options in a thoughtful and inclusive way.
Now it is my turn to ask you, what are you doing to impact the future of Nashville’s transit system? You can take the nMotion2016 survey and tell us your priorities and preferences for how we move forward. You can also attend one of the upcoming public meetings:
March 18, 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Downtown Library
March 28, 5:30 – 7:00pm at the East Park Community Center
March 29, 6:30 – 8:30pm with CNAP at the Southeast Community Center
April 2, 9:00 – 10:30am at OneC1ty
There are more public meetings to come, and you can also request a “Transit Talk” for your organization.
The only way we will be able to create a transit system that truly meets the needs of this community is if the people have a say in what that system looks like, and this is the opportunity to do just that.
This is the time to step up and let your local government know what you think. Fill out the survey and speak your piece at the public meetings. Traffic has got to be fixed in Nashville, and we as residents need to be part of the process,