More Information about the Listening Sessions and the Transportation Plan
What will take place at the community listening sessions?
The first half hour will be dedicated to a resource-based survey in which participants are asked to identify spending priorities by project category type. The second half hour will involve attendees:
- identifying specific locations of concern on Metro maps
- answering questions about equitable transportation plan design, transit and bike system utilization
- free-form commenting
There will also be time dedicated to one-on-one or small group question and answer sessions with transportation department staff.
Weren’t sessions like this held before for past transit plans? How is this different?
We are shaping this process based on lessons learned from previous transportation planning efforts. We will engage members of every neighborhood to hear their questions and concerns. A successful transportation plan must be accountable to the community and requires an open process for gathering residents’ input. These listening sessions are a crucial step in the process.
How will Mayor Cooper’s transportation plan be funded?
Funding sources will be discussed and determined after listening to the community, Metro Council Members, and other stakeholder groups to identify the most critical transportation needs facing Nashvillians – those everyday issues that keep us from safely and reliably getting to our destinations on time. Without determining the size of the challenges we must address, funding cannot be adequately determined.
How will you make sure this transportation plan works for everyone?
Making the plan work for everyone is the major priority in the planning stages of the Mayor’s transportation plan. Faye DiMassimo, Fabian Bedne, Eric Brown and Mary Beth Ikard have engaged Metro Council members from every district to understand the needs of each neighborhood. The team has also inquired about the priorities of other community partners, including religious institutions and community centers, who may have valuable input about transportation barriers, including those surrounding language, culture, and location.
Will the transportation plan focus on regional connectivity at all?
The plan is coordinated with the regional efforts, our adjoining jurisdictions’ work, as well as with TDOT. Considering how we fit with the overall region in solving transportation issues is key to our own transportation plan.
What’s the timeline for this transportation plan?
Council Member listening sessions began in November 2019. Public listening sessions will take place in January and February 2020. We will issue initial recommendations in late spring of 2020 and release a full transportation plan by the end of September 2020.