Nashville Area MPO Solicits Public Transportation Project Proposals

Nashville MPO Press Release, January 27, 2012

Paved trails that will allow more students to walk and bike to schools are among eight Middle Tennessee projects awarded $2.5 million in federal funds by the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization.

In response to mounting challenges related to energy costs, health and environmental concerns, the Nashville Area MPO and its Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee today announced $2.5 million in project awards under an active transportation policy included in the recently‐adopted 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. Shaped by extensive public and stakeholder input, the MPO established a new direction for investments made with MPO‐managed grant funds received through the Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation Program. The Active Transportation program targets at least 15 percent of available USTP resources for walking, bicycling, or transit‐supportive projects that may not have otherwise received funding through more traditional revenue streams.

“It essentially imbeds a Complete Streets approach, or consideration of all potential users of a roadway regardless of their age or ability –with some funding to back it up– into the decision‐making process for the largest source of federal funding that we administer,”

said Leslie Meehan, the MPO’s Director of Healthy Communities.

One‐third of Americans do not drive or own cars, and 12 percent of all U.S. trips are by walking or bicycling, yet thesemodes account for 14 percent of traffic fatalities and only 1.6 percent of federal transportation funding. Of the trips taken in U.S. metros, 50 percent are three miles or less; 28 percent are one mile or less. And despite the fact that 55 percent of Americans want to bike more than they do now, drive less and walk more, 65 percent of trips under one mile are still taken by automobile due to inadequate facilities for active transportation. With Tennessee ranked second in the nation for obesity rates, the MPO is pursuing infrastructure policies that reflect a desire for healthier options to getaround communities – including safer, more convenient means to walk or cycle for routine trips.

Projects addressing needs identified in the MPO’s Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Study received priority consideration for awards. The vision and policy provisions of this Study were incorporated into the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan—a 25‐year roadmap, adopted Dec. 2010, for how the MPO will allocate nearly $6 billion toward multi‐modal transportation infrastructure. In four‐year intervals between now and 2035, approximately $68 million in federal funds will be available for active transportation by way of the MPO work program (Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP).

The MPO Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee created project scoring criteria and, along with MPO staff, conducted reviews. This BPAC is among only a handful in the nation to provide leadership in the process for MPO project prioritization and selection:
“We believe there’s an important opportunity in having a committee comprised of advocates, non‐profits, and public sector agencies –such as health, schools, parks and police– weigh in on transportation projects that improve health and safety,” said Meehan.

Proposals were funded in urban and suburban areas of Middle Tennessee, creating connections to schools, downtowns,libraries, public transit and other community destinations. Although $3.8 million in requests were received from member jurisdictions for the $2.5 million in available funds, the MPO was nonetheless able to award monies toward active transportation projects in every jurisdiction that submitted a proposal.

A majority of the region’s project submittals had a focus on safely connecting children to area schools through non‐motorized facilities, demonstrating an increased demand for safe and convenient opportunities to encourage physical activity among young people, by way of transportation to and from school.

2011‐2014 TIP PROJECTS INCLUDE:

Sumner County: Construct Phase Three (approx. one mile) of the Lower Station Camp Greenway, providing safe connectivity for students to the Station Camp schools campus. ($560,800)
City of Gallatin: Construct Phase three of Downtown Gallatin streetscape improvements, with the installation of pedestrian amenities (sidewalks, crosswalks, landscaping, lighting) along South Water Avenue from Main Street to Smith Street. Provides pedestrian connections between the downtown public square and the Sumner Co. Criminal Justice Center and courts. ($301,600)
City of Nolensville: Greenway construction to provide safe pedestrian & bicycle connectivity among Nolensville Elementary School, Nolensville Ball Park, the Historic District and commercial Town Center, and Williamson County Recreation Center. ($496,000)
City of Spring Hill: Paved multi‐use trail to Summit High and Spring Station Middle schools, connecting Cherry Grove Addition and other area residential subdivisions to both school campuses from Buckner Lane ‐ allowing students to have healthier, safer transportation to and from school. ($56,158)
City of Fairview: Construct approximately one mile of sidewalk along the north side of Old Franklin Road between Fairview Blvd. and Chessington Drive, along with painted crosswalks, crosswalks to safely connect students in a nearby residential area to Fairview Elementary School. There is currently a lack of dedicated pedestrian facilities adjacent to the campus. ($178,035)
City of Whitehouse: Restriping of a 1.6mi section of HWY 31W / SR 41 to provide bike and pedestrian facilities that connect to the city’s 3.5 mile greenway system. Allows users of the greenway system to access one trail head and complete a 5.1‐mile total trail length. ($360,000)
City of Mt. Juliet: Funds for mini‐greenway located in vacated right‐of‐way for Old N. Mt. Juliet Road, connecting citizens primarily with the Music City Star transit Station. Mt. Juliet’s stop for the Star is the second busiest along the route from Lebanon to Nashville. The linear park will contain fitness stations and benches. ($21,680)
Metro‐Nashville: The MPO was also able to fund one proposal to encourage walking and bicycling safety training. Nashville’s education project will focus on vulnerable users such as children via the Safe Routes to Schools program, and older adults through the Walk to Shop program. ($480,000)

“The Nashville region has a growing pedestrian and bicycling community, and ongoing installation of bike lanes, greenways, bike routes, and sidewalks to support that growth,” said David Kleinfelter of Walk/Bike Nashville. “But a lack of knowledge about the usefulness of these facilities, together with misunderstanding of the rights and responsibilities for all users, potentially leads to conflicts that can result in injuries or fatalities, as well as public perceptions that our roads are unsafe. Safe and effective road infrastructure use depends on all members of our community understanding the usefulness of these public facilities and their obligations and responsibilities while using them.”

Investments in the non‐motorized modes increase access to transit, provide safe and reliable choices for trips of short distances, promote physical activity, and encourage redevelopment of existing centers and corridors that may already have reached or be nearing expected capacity on supporting roadway infrastructure. For information on MPO efforts to support a transportation system that’s safer and more inclusive of active trip‐making, visit NashvilleMPO.org/BikePed.
The Nashville Area MPO is the federally‐designated transportation planning agency for 2800+ sq. mi. and 1.5+ million people in Middle Tennessee. A regional partnership among the U.S. DOT, Tennessee DOT, elected leadership, planning and public works directors, the business community, and citizens across a five‐plus county planning area, the MPO leads in the development of the region’s short, mid, and long‐term transportation plans, and contributes to ongoing conversations about issues such as land use, economic development, climate change and the environment, safety and security, and health.