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Downtown business leaders consider best east-west transit system

5.24.11

After asking Nashville residents their opinions on transit upgrades in the area – including Bus Rapid Transit – the Nashville Chamber of Commerce weighed in on their preference.

 

Downtown business leaders consider best east-west transit system

By Stephanie Toone – The Tennessean, May 17, 2011

 

Nashville Chamber of Commerce officials met with business executives today to discuss the need for new transportation options between downtown and East Nashville's Five Points.

 

Metropolitan Transit Authority is conducting a study of the busy corridor to determine which mode of transit, including light rail, streetcar or bus rapid transit, would best fit the area.

 

James McAteer, MTA director of planning and grants, spoke about the expected growth in downtown Nashville and how transit alternatives could spur economic growth.

 

The system would benefit such West End and Broadway-area companies as Caterpillar Financial Services, HCA, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Medical Center and St. Thomas Hospital, said Richard Warren, the Chamber's Corridor Steering Committee representative.

 

The first phase of the new transit system would run along the West End corridor. The second phase would extend to East Nashville.

 

The best options for downtown and East Nashville would be a bus rapid transit system or light rail system, said Doug Fox, vice president of the Nashville Auto Diesel College. Many of NADC's students need better transportation between school and their part-time jobs, which are often located in the downtown area.

 

"My only concern is that East Nashville is not in the first phase of this project," Fox said. "I know the infrastructure to get a system over the river is pretty costly, but that would be a major part of us becoming a progressive city."

 

Warren said several meetings will be held with business owners, employees and others before the final recommendation is presented this fall.

 

"Nashville will have the population of Denver by 2035, and they have a very robust transit system," Warren said. "We need additional transit alternatives now. We can't just wait until the traffic is already here."

 

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Daniel Levy, AC Transit Rider Since 1998, Oakland Resident

“Rather than dealing with the stress of driving, I get to sit back and relax on my way to work. I use my time on the bus to read, listen to music, talk with friends or sometimes just to look out the window. It’s just really nice to have a little bit of time during the day to do whatever I want to do.”