NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s plans to improve transportation within Music City include extensive changes to improve safety in the downtown area.
One of the major changes, through “Connect Downtown,” a 10-year plan introduced last year, could have drivers staying at red lights longer.
One of the goals of the plan is to limit and eliminate right turns on red in congested areas in downtown in hopes of significantly improving safety for people crossing intersections.
The goal also overlaps with Vision Zero in Nashville. Vision Zero is a worldwide movement to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries. In 2022, Nashville became a Vision Zero city.
Through the mayor’s proposed plan, the Nashville Department of Transportation, along with WeGo Public Transit and the Tennessee Department of Transportation plan to make five “big moves.”
- Managing congestion
- By upgrading signals, improving traffic operations and managing events better
- Improving safety
- By advancing Vision Zero projects and programs to make Downtown’s streets safer for people
- Moving more people
- By prioritizing buses on key corridors
- Creating complete networks
- By developing safe, separated and connected walking, rolling, biking and scooter facilities for all ages and disabilities to get into and around.
- Maximizing curb space
- By flexing the uses of the curb throughout the day for deliveries, service vehicles and passenger pick-up and drop-off
In April, the project team finalized the recommendations.
Read about the full project below:
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