A way of life

Earlier this week I attended the Nashville MTA's public meeting on their upcoming master plan and heard a regular mass transit rider comment about the differences he has seen in transit in all the places he has been. "Why is public transportation seen as a negative status symbol in Nashville? It's seen as a way of life in other large cities such as Chicago, Washington D.C and even Ireland (I had to throw that out there because the link is so cool)."

Why can't public transportation be seen as the cool place to be located next to? Why can't economic developers focus their attention along mass transit corridors and sell the hip advantages of getting work done on your commute. It's still legal to text message on buses and trains. If your commute is long enough, you may even be able to open up your laptop and get that report finished before that morning deadline.

The MTA will be opening up their first bus rapid transit (BRT) line in a couple of months along their highly travelled Gallatin Pike route. They are promising 15 minute headways with distinct stops with shelters and lighting. They purchased new hybrid buses specifically for this route that will have GPS sensors that communicate with traffic signals further ensuring the quick headways. The current buses on route 26 have 30 minute headways and they will continue service. At times, a passenger may only have to wait 7 minutes for a bus along this corridor. However, you need to be at the BRT stops because those locations are the only spots where they will stop and they will be spread out at a minimum of 3/4 of mile apart.

I'm so excited about this, I might make a t-shirt of my routes (26, 34x, BRT).

Frequency is increasing, the buses are new and just maybe we can change the image of mass transportation in Nashville.

~ Dave Keiser

Nashville MTA Public Meetings July 28, 29, 30

On July 28, 29 and 30, the Nashville MTA will hold a series of public meetings to gain citizen input about a new draft of the Strategic Master Plan to guide public transportation in Metro for the next 25 years. This document has been in progress for the past six months and is nearing completion. It is vital that we hear from as many people as possible to complete this important work for public transportation in Nashville. The public is invited and encouraged to attend one of these meetings.

They will be meeting at the following times and places. We'll be there on Wednesday!

1. North Branch Library - 1001 Monroe St. @ 5:00-6:30 pm - Tues. July 28
2. Music City Central (community meeting room) - 400 Charlotte Ave. @ 11:30-1:00 pm Wed. July 29
3. Southeast Branch Library - 2325 Hickory Highlands Dr. @ 5:00-6:30 pm - Wed. July 29
4. Green Hills Library - 3701 Benham Ave. @ 5:00-6:30 pm - Thurs. July 30

I hope you can make it to one of these important meetings. We'll be at the Music City Central meeting and look forward to seeing you there.

Attendance at the meetings is not required for comment. You may review the draft Strategic Plan after 7/28/09 at nashvillemta.org and mail comments to 130 Nestor Street, Nashville, TN 37210; fax comments to 862-6208; call MTA Customer Care at 862-5950; or email comments to mta.publicmeetings@nashville.gov

The Oasis Center needs bus passes – you can help!

The Oasis Center, a non-profit organization helping youth, is actively seeking bus passes as their number one need. Perhaps taking the bus is not convenient for you but please consider giving bus passes to those who can ride; it benefits the environment and at-risk youth in our community.

Donations for the Oasis Center may be made online at the Oasis Center website or via the Middle Tennessee Community Foundation's website at Giving Matters.

Portland unveils Number 5

Pay attention to Portland. Not only are they putting in light rail all over the place, but now they are manufacturing the actual street cars and trains. Just last week, the City unveiled their fifth light rail line. Check out this video of the first ride and tell me what you think.



~ Dave Keiser