Transit news just keeps coming in!!

Wow! February has been an exciting month for followers of Nashville transit. The Nashville Business Journal reports that MTA is working on a technology to allow riders to track where busses are and how soon the bus will be at your stop. This is great news for the current transit system... no more anxiety... "Did I miss the bus? How much longer will I wait??" Soon Nashville riders can find the answer to these questions with the help of an app on a smart phone! Learn more here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2010/02/15/daily19.html

This is a great step in the right direction. We are all for more Nashvillians growing comfortable riding the bus!

See you on the bus, friends!

Transit and the New Convention Center

Demolition began today in downtown to make way for the Music City Center, Nashville's new and highly controversial convention center. I stood next to the owner of the first building to be demolished while he told me about the 30-year history of his business, remembering back to when he first moved into this building.

As I watched the demoliton and looked around at the multiple city blocks that were about to be razed, I couldn't help but wonder how transit was going to play a part in the functionality of the Music City Center. I have had conversations with tourists and businesspeople, in town for work and play, who have often asked, "How do I get around in this city if I don't have a car?" My answer is usually, "You can use your life savings to pay for cabs, or you can try our bus system. One option will cause you to spend alot of money and the other will take a high level of bravery. I'll leave you to decide which is which."

There are already several conventions and conferences on the books and this project just might turn out to be successful. The debate will continue on whether this project was a smart decision at this point in time. Regardless, the thing is being built. Our city leaders are hoping that we'll have a Field of Dreams moment...you know, "If you build it, they will come." But if we build it, and if they come, how will they get anywhere?

From what we know so far, MTA is going to have bus routes that actually pass through the new convention center. This is a great ammenity and we hope that the new downtwon circulator will also serve the facility. But this is not enough!

1. Will our bus system be simple enough for visitors to use when our own residents are often puzzled by how it works?
2. Will the bus present an attractive and competitive option to other modes of transportation?
3. Will taking the bus be a normal part of Nashville's culture such that visitors think of the bus as their first and best option?

MTA is the face of public transportation in this city and has a significant role to play. Our hope is that the opening of the Music City Center will encourage much needed, system-wide improvements, pushing mass transit one step closer to being a viable option to residents and visitors alike.

Ride Free on Halloween

Miller Lite Free Rides will offer free bus rides on 15 Nashville MTA routes on Saturday, October 31, from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. The program will provide bus service on many popular routes that service Halloween destinations including the Miller Lite Hustler Hollywood's Nightmare in Music City, the Halloween 5k run, restaurants, bars, local events and other neighborhood celebrations.

According to MTA's website the following routes will be free after 7:00pm. (Please check there site for final routes ):

• 3 West End
  
• 4 Shelby
• 10 Charlotte
• 12 Nolensville Road
  
• 14 Whites Creek
  
• 15 Murfeesboro Road
• 17 12th Avenue South
• 19-29 Herman Jefferson
  
• 22 Bordeaux
• 23 Dickerson Road
• 26 Gallatin Road
  
• 28-30 Meridian - McFerrin
• 34X X Opry Mills

For maps and schedules either use Google Transit or MTA's Maps and Schedule Page. For more information see press release and MTA's website.

Public Hearing on Proposed Budget

Tomorrow evening, Tuesday June 2nd at 6:30 p.m., the Metro Council has scheduled a public hearing on Metro's operating budget for the new fiscal year. The budget includes funding for mass transit. If you believe mass transit is important to Nashville's future, please come out and voice your opinion or write your council person.

Easy Ride funding found

Word on the street is the State of Tennessee will continue to be an MTA Easy Ride partner thanks to funding provided by TDOT.

It is official! We just heard that the Easy Ride Program for state employees will continue - thanks for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). We are thrilled with the news! We all win here: the people and the environment. And it's great to see TDOT supporting green industry instead of - ultimately - spending more on lane building and road maintenance.

Music City Central Coming Along for Fall Opening

I went by the site today to get some photos of the progress of the Music City Central downtown. It is coming along nicely and is anticipated to open this Fall. MTA has a number of construction aerials of their progress. You can find them here.

-Brian