Today, the United States Department of Transportation announced that Nashville will receive $13 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding for the implementation of the “We Are Nolensville Pike” transportation safety improvement project. SS4A grants totaling $817 million were awarded to regional, local, and tribal communities across the country for planning, implementation and demonstration projects that improve safety and help prevent death and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways.
“This federal grant from USDOT is going to transform traffic safety on one of the city’s most diverse, vibrant corridors,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “This investment in the people of Nashville is going to allow us to add and repair sidewalks, add pedestrian-scale lighting, improve crosswalks and bus stops, and add mid-block crossings and more along one of the city’s busiest and most dangerous corridors. I’m so grateful to Secretary Buttigieg and our federal partners for helping us move the project forward.
Through the grant award, the Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) will receive $13 million from USDOT and will contribute over $3.2 million in local capital dollars for a total project cost of $16.3 million. The local portion is fully funded. The department will work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, WeGo Public Transit, and other community partners to implement the improvements.
“I’m so excited and encouraged that USDOT recognizes what an important project “We Are Nolensville Pike” is,” said NDOT Director Diana Alarcon. “Vision Zero—that is achieving zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our roads—guides everything we do as a department. Making our roads safer for all modes is our number one priority. This project is essential to helping us meet our Vision Zero goal.”
The opportunity has been afforded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as enacted in the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act that authorizes $5 billion in Safe Streets for All funding over five years. The process and local funding commitment was initiated by Mayor John Cooper’s administration and was approved by Metro Council on August 1, 2023.
The total $16.3 million funds will be used to construct safety improvements for people walking, biking and using transit along the Nolensville Pike corridor between McCall Street and Haywood Lane, a 2.5 mile stretch. Improvements will include, but are not limited to:
- Building safe sidewalk connections where they are currently missing or are in need of repair
- Adding street lighting and pedestrian-scale lighting to improve visibility in low-light conditions
- Improving intersection safety by adding and enhancing crossings including high visibility crossings and pedestrian hybrid beacons; adjusting signal timings to include leading pedestrian intervals, and constructing intersection bulb-outs
- Enhancing bus stop designs to ensure safer access to public transit
The “We Are Nolensville” project was developed by NDOT in coordination with community partners and utilizing previous efforts including the Envision Nolensville planning process. The project is part of the city’s Vision Zero program to achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries Nashville roadways. NDOT will announce next steps for the project in the coming weeks.
More information on Safe Streets and Roads for All
More information on Nashville’s Vision Zero program
Contact
Cortnye Stone, NDOT Director of Strategic Communications
615-714-9755
[email protected]