Mayoral Candidates' Platform:
MEGAN BARRY: “I believe that a city that thrives is a city that moves and Nashville should have a world-class transportation system. This means everything from roads to sidewalks to buses to bike lanes to rail – it’s all on the table. As mayor, I will sharpen our focus on transit by creating an Office of Transportation responsible for coordinating the city departments that deal with transit and working with local, regional, state and federal agencies to streamline the processes for investing in all modes of transportation. In addition, I’ll work with the Mayors’ Caucus to plan the region’s transportation future and secure state and federal resources for transit.” |
CHARLES ROBERT BONE:
"As mayor, I will hold MTA to high standards and challenge them to look at multi-modal transit solutions: not just bus, but every mode available to us. I will challenge MTA to examine not just transit modes available to us today, but to think boldly and with open minds as new modes develop. I’ll also communicate with leaders of other cities that have successfully navigated the complex issues of public transit so that we can emulate their successes and work to avoid pitfalls. We need strong leadership to ensure that MTA and Metro Public Works cooperate to create roads and lanes that are safe for bicycles and pedestrians, as well as cars and buses. We will also need to continue to be sensitive to evolving neighborhoods and market forces. We know our main thoroughfares such as Nolensville Road, Charlotte Avenue, Murfreesboro Road, and the I-24 and I-65 corridors will always need attention, but 20 years ago, no one predicted the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood would be the vibrant community it is now. " Click Charles Robert's website to see him discuss the issue of transportation. |
DAVID FOX:
"Having knocked on 40,000+ doors, we hear Nashvillians tell us that transportation is one of the top two concerns that could jeopardize our quality of life. I agree with that assessment and believe we should tackle the challenge by crowd-sourcing a solution. I am confident that by being inclusive and transparent, we can develop a transit vision and plan that our community will broadly support and fund. I am sure it will be a multi-modal approach, utilizing bus, sidewalks, bike paths and possibly light rail. In the meantime, there is some low hanging fruit -- we should replace our outmoded traffic signaling system on our most congested intersections, consider wider use of reversible lanes during rush hour, and improve our bus service with a greater number of routes (using smaller vehicles) and more circular routes." |
BILL FREEMAN:
"200,000 more people are projected to be moving to Davidson County over the next 20-25 years. More than 1 million will move to the Nashville area including surrounding counties. It's imperative that we begin on a regional mass transit system as soon as possible. On my first day as mayor, I will begin this work, employing a transportation expert in the Mayor's Office who will coordinate with surrounding county mayors, MTA and RTA. The system could include or consist of light rail, commuter rail, and rapid-transit buses. The objective is to get commuters "door to door" -- home to work -- without resorting to single-passenger car, except to a park-and-ride lot not far from their home. We will emphasize connectivity between regional transit, MTA and multiple modes of transportation. Sidewalks and bikeways are part of the plan, as is an updated MTA bus route system. We have to begin the change the car-centric culture of our region, and that will mean making the system fast and efficient." |
HOWARD GENTRY:
"We need to stop talking about easing congestion and start doing something about it. As mayor, I'll start working Day One for dependable MTA and multi-modal solutions including sidewalks, bike paths, an expanded Green Line/Blue Line Circulator and downloadable apps to let us know when our buses will be where and to allow us to pay our fares here in our city. I envision public-private partnerships to connect recreation, shopping and residential sites across this city with biking and pedestrian transportation means. Other cities have done this. So can we. All the while I will be working for a regional, shared responsibility solution for mass transit. We have a lot to do and no time to waste. Nothing should be off the table." |
JEREMY KANE:
“Eight years ago, 78% of our roads were rated to be in an acceptable condition. Now, less than 61% are up to standard. Anyone who drives around Nashville on a daily basis has likely encountered potholes and unsafe road conditions. As mayor, I will invest in our roads to ensure that Nashvillians can get around town safely. I will also leverage innovative new technology to improve traffic light efficiency and inform drivers of available parking options, road closures, and construction delays. With Nashville growing at such an exponential rate, I understand that an efficient transit system is vital to this city's success. My vision is to get people and things where they need to go, when they need to get there. I believe that our transit system should not just move people in and out of the city, it must also connect us to our schools, available jobs, and each other so that everyone, no matter your zip code, can live, learn, work, and contribute to Nashville's success. Going forward, we must explore how to expand our transportation system beyond busses and to innovative ideas such as an efficient light rail system that can keep up with the fast paced growth and demands of day-to-day travels.” |
LINDA ESKIND REBROVICK:
"Traffic in Nashville is getting increasingly worse. I’ve written a policy paper that provides a comprehensive, all of the above set of solutions. It focuses on what we can do in the short term, mid term and long term. This includes real-time adaptive sensors in our stoplights, more bike lanes and sidewalks and mass transit that works both locally and regionally. You can read the entire paper at Lindafornashville.com/transportation." |
ARTICLES & OTHER RESOURCES: