A recent report found that homeowners in areas without access to transit are at a greater risk of foreclosure. Intended for mortgage underwriters, this report recommended incorporating transit access and walkability into measurements for borrowing terms. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development was listening, and it announced last week they’ll begin gauging the “location efficiency” — a project’s potential to connect residents to surrounding communities — of all HUD grant applications.

Future may require transit needs for 900,000 more riders

If there is a lesson to be learned from the devastating floods, it’s that our region is at its best when we pull together as a community. And just as we have pulled together as a community to address the natural disaster, we must do the same if we’re going to solve our region’s transportation issues.

The floods reminded us that “Nashville” means much more than just Davidson County. We are a 10-county region circling the Nashville metropolitan area, and the decisions and challenges facing Nashville and its surrounding communities affect us all. 

In the past month, communities throughout Middle Tennessee pulled together to help each other out in the wake of the devastating floods. In many cases, it was neighbor helping neighbor, but it was also carloads of volunteers crossing county lines to help out their fellow Tennesseans, wherever help was needed.

NASHVILLE, TN. - Business, governmental and community leaders will gather in Nashville next week for the second annual Power of 10: Convening the Region summit. Topics for discussion include new federal policy initiatives in support of livability and “place-making,” regional open space conservation, and the first public unveiling of the draft Regional Transportation Plan under development by the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

A mass public transit line from Gallatin to Nashville is a likely candidate to be included in the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan.  By SARAH KINGSBURY • The News Examiner • February 10, 2010

A new partnership to improve Middle Tennessee's public transportation system was announced Thursday between public and private sectors and between cities and counties.  By Jenny Upchurch • THE TENNESSEAN • February 5, 2010

NASHVILLE, TN. – At a Feb. 4th meeting of the Middle Tennessee Mayors Caucus, the newly-elected MPO Board Chair, Mayor Karl Dean of Nashville, will announce details of a critical period in 2010 for public and municipal involvement in multi-billion dollar transportation investments for the region.

Our transportation decisions have a huge impact — positive or negative — on the health and well-being of all Americans. - Transportation for America Blog post by Sean Barry