Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (Nashville MTA), which does business as WeGo Public Transit, is a public transportation agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Consisting of city buses and paratransit, the system serves Nashville and Davidson County. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 7,634,900, or about 27,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024. For 2023, the Nashville MTA expected to collect $5.2 million in fare revenue and to spend $99.3 million in operation. To make up most of the difference, MTA expected to collect subsidies from the city, state, and national governments.

MTA partnered with the Metro Arts Commission, which commissioned six artist-designed transit shelters are placed along the new 28th/31st Avenue Bridge.

The MTA was the only transit agency in the country to implement payment with credit card at the fare box. That proof of payment approach was discontinued in March 2009.

History

The first public transportation in Nashville began in 1860 when the McGavock and Mt. Vernon Horse Railroad Company and the South Nashville Street Railroad Company were joined to create a public transportation system using steam and mules to power rail cars. The first electric streetcar in Nashville came in 1889. Over the years, several different companies offered transit in Nashville. The first buses came in 1926, as a complement to the preceding rail lines. In 1930, Tennessee Electric Power Company took over the transit system and phased out streetcars by February 1941. In 1953, the company was reorganized and changed its name to Nashville Transit Company. The next 20 years saw the decline of public transportation in Nashville and the rise of the automobile. This led to higher fares and service cutbacks for the transit system. In order to keep public transportation in the city viable, Metro-Nashville government purchased the Nashville Transit Company and created the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1973.

Due to a major flood in May 2010, Nashville MTA suffered losses to their fleet and their maintenance/administration offices. The total losses amounted to 39 buses and 39 paratransit vans, various other support vehicles and severe damage caused to both the maintenance/administration offices and to the Riverfront Music City Star (now known as the WeGo Star) train station. Service was interrupted for four days, with limited service being restored afterwards for the next four weeks. By early June 2010, Nashville MTA had obtained loaner buses and other vehicles from surrounding transit agencies, including Memphis, Cincinnati, Clarksville and others. Regular transit service was restored shortly thereafter.

On July 12, 2018, the MTA announced that it was re-branding itself as WeGo Public Transit to reflect the changing landscape of public transit in the region and to also coincide with various recommendations from the 2016 nMotion plan. Despite the failure of the 2018 transit referendum, plans to re-brand the agency were already in place prior to the referendum being held, and the decision to re-brand was made independently of the referendum effort and its outcome.

Former BRT Lite projects

After years of study, MTA secured taxpayer funding to purchase the vehicles necessary for a bus rapid transit (BRT) light line. On September 27, 2009, MTA implemented the first phase of its new BRT service on the Gallatin Road corridor, designated as route 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite. Covering 12 miles (19 km), this BRT service operates from Music City Central to the edge of Sumner County just north of RiverGate Mall. Passengers experience fewer stops and more frequent buses as they travel along one of Nashville's busiest corridors on all new 60-foot (18 m), articulated, fuel-efficient hybrid buses. BRT buses stop at designated stops that are marked with a green "BRT stop" sign. During the second phase of BRT in spring 2010, more customer amenities were added. Gallatin Road intersections have Green Light Extenders that allow the traffic signals to stay green longer as a bus approaches. In addition, each station stop features new enhanced passenger waiting areas.

A second high use corridor was identified for implementation and funding goes along Murfreesboro Pike. The 55 Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite, which began service on Monday, April 1, 2013, comes three years after the 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite, a 12-mile stretch from downtown's Music City Central to RiverGate Mall, began service. The Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite stretches from downtown to the Antioch area near the Global Mall at the Crossings, formerly Hickory Hollow Mall.

Originally, Mayor Karl Dean had hoped to start running "lite" bus rapid transit service on Charlotte and Nolensville pikes in 2014, but plans for the Charlotte BRT Lite were discussed at several public meetings in late January and early February 2015. On March 2, 2015, it was announced that Charlotte Pike will be the third major corridor in Nashville to have BRT Lite service, joining Gallatin Pike and Murfreesboro Pike. 50 Charlotte Pike BRT, which began service on Monday, March 30, 2015, offers limited stops traveling between Music City Central in downtown to the Charlotte Walmart located off River Road.

In March 2015, preliminary plans began for a BRT Lite route to be on Nolensville Pike to begin in the fall of 2015. Route 52 Nolensville Pike BRT lite, which began service on Sunday, March 27, 2016, operates on Nolensville Pike and offers more frequent service, but with fewer stops. All buses serve Nolensville Pike between Downtown and Harding Place with branches to Hickory Plaza (Route 52A) and Wallace/Ezell (Route 52B). While the other previous BRT Lite corridors (Gallatin Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, and Charlotte Pike) all feature both a local service to supplement their perspective BRT lite lines, the Nolensville Pike corridor only features the 52 Nolensville Pike BRT Lite (which replaces the 12 Nolensville Road route).

Bus service

The MTA bus system serves all of Nashville and Davidson County. While no bus service is directly provided to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Forest Hills, some service is provided, though, to Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Goodlettsville and Oak Hill.

Service to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Lakewood began on Monday, April 30, 2012. Route 27 Old Hickory provides weekday service in Old Hickory via Lakewood. Buses travel to and from downtown Nashville and Madison. New park-n-rides are located at the former City Hall in Lakewood and at the MTA Administrative Offices on Myatt Drive in Madison.

Frequent Bus Lines (some previously advertised as BRT Lite)

Current service

WeGo as of November 2023 offers 8 frequent bus lines. The service operates every 15 minutes or less on major corridors throughout Davidson County.

• 3 West End
• 7 Hillsboro
• 22 Bordeaux
• 23 Dickerson Pike
• 50 Charlotte Pike
• 52 Nolensville Pike
• 55 Murfreesboro Pike
• 56 Gallatin Pike

AccessRide

MTA offers a paratransit service operating specialized van services for people with disabilities unable to use regular bus routes. AccessRide provides door-to-door paratransit service in Davidson County within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from a regular bus route. This service also provides elderly people with a way to get to doctors' appointments and pick up medication. The fare price for this service is $3.70 per ride. This is an application based service, these can be downloaded from the WeGo Website and must be returned to the Central location downtown.

Music City Central

In May 2007, MTA began construction of Music City Central at a cost of $54,000,000, a downtown transfer station that replaced the outdoor Downtown Transit Mall on Deaderick Street. The facility opened to the public on Oct. 26, 2008. Music City Central is a two-story facility with climate-controlled waiting areas. Riders can buy tickets, check bus schedules, and shop at a convenience store or donut shop located at the facility. A multi-story public parking garage is located above the transfer portion of the facility.

Neighborhood Mini Hubs

Hillsboro Transit Center

The Hillsboro Transit Center celebrated its grand opening on March 31, 2022. The project is in collaboration with Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and the Nashville Department of Transportation.

The bus stop is located adjacent to Hillsboro High School and includes covered bus bays, Ticket Vending Machines, lighting improvements, real-time bus information, ADA infrastructure, a climate-controlled waiting room, exterior waiting areas, phone charging stations, and Wi-Fi.

Connections

This area is currently served by:

• 7 Hillsboro Pike
• 17 12th Avenue South

North Nashville Transit Center (Spring 2024)

The Dr. Ernest Rip Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center is a new WeGo development at 26th Avenue and Clarksville Highway. It will have an air-conditioned waiting room, restrooms, Wi-Fi, and multiple bus bays to connect several routes across town. It is part of an overall effort to increase access to public transit across Nashville while reducing the necessity of transferring Downtown at WeGo Central. A ground-breaking took place on November 10, 2022, and the opening is scheduled for Spring 2024.

Planned connections

Current routes that will be connected:

• 22 Bordeaux
• 42 St. Cecilia/Cumberland
• 75 Midtown
• 77 Thompson/Wedgewood

Routes that will be extended to the transit center:

• 9 MetroCenter
• 14 Whites Creek

New routes connected to the transit center:

• 71 Trinity

Park & Ride

MTA & RTA also have a Park & Ride program where passengers can park their cars in designated parking lots and ride the bus to their destination.

Ticket Cost

The cost of tickets mainly depends on the riders age and the number of days or rides the ticket permits. An adult ticket allowing 31 days of unlimited rides (31-day pass) will typically cost more than that of a youth. Some riders receive special discounts because of mental or physical disability.

Active Bus Fleet

Commuter rail

WeGo Star

The WeGo Star (reporting mark NRTX) is a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee. The service uses the existing track of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The line stops at seven stations: Riverfront, Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hamilton Springs and Lebanon. The operation covers 32 miles (51 km) of rail line. The MTA took over operation of the commuter service in 2008 after initial service began on September 18, 2006. In 2023, the system had an annual ridership of 108,000.

Expansion

A proposed expansion of the system to Clarksville and Ashland City is projected to cost $525 million.

Bus route list

Former bus routes

Nashville Connector program

The Nashville Connector is a program that partners with both city and private sectors to connect commuters to more sustainable commuting options. Nashville used to be a town where everything with a 15-minute drive, but with the booming population, jobs and homes are spreading out. The idea of a short commute is something of the past (this is the epitome of urban sprawl); the Nashville Connector serves as a way to close this gap and make commuting in a more sustainable fashion a better and more accessible option. The push towards making a more commuter friendly city – resulting in social connection as seen through transportation – comes with many other secondary perks; these include, but are not limited to, the reinforcement of complete streets, a decrease in pollutants, and a decrease in congestion. Nashville Connector provides a plethora of services; this spans from getting people connected to bus routes and carpools, but also connects people to different bike routes around the city, and facilitates a safe walking space.

Nashville Connector was founded by the Metro Planning Department, and works closely with the Metro Public Work staff.

Expansion

nMotion

The MTA/RTA transit system is conducting a strategic planning process called nMotion to find new and innovative ways to improve transportation in Nashville. nMotion is the Nashville MTA/RTA's Strategic Plan, a 25-year comprehensive plan designed to meet the Nashville area's vision for transit. The plan will look at how the transit system works today and identify opportunities to enhance the transit system, improve service, attract and retain new riders and meet the growing needs of the Nashville region. Throughout the project, the public will engage in developing the blueprint of actions to make the best opportunities a reality.

In March 2016, Nashville MTA/RTA began asking for input on three future scenarios for the region's transit system at a series of community meetings. Each scenario presents different transit options for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee. At the meetings, attendees have the chance to review the scenarios and provide input on which strategies the region should consider improving its transit system.

Cancelled and rejected projects

The Amp (formally known as the East-West Connector)

Mayor Karl Dean had his eyes set on a full-fledged bus rapid transit system taking passengers from West End Avenue down Broadway, across the river to East Nashville's Five Points district. The Amp (formally known as the East-West Connector) would have begun at Five Points in East Nashville and extends down Broadway, West End and Harding Road to White Bridge Road.

The difference between the AMP and the BRT Lite (at the time only available in operation along Gallatin Road and Murfreesboro Pike) is that the former would have been a full-fledged bus rapid transit system, with buses occupying exclusive lanes of traffic.

On the afternoon of January 22, 2015, Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that it will "cease work on the Amp," though strategic planning for mass transit in the region will continue.

Let's Move Nashville

In October 2017, Mayor Megan Barry unveiled her $5.2 billion plans for expanding Nashville's transportation infrastructure including the addition of light rail service. The final mass transit system plan named "Let's Move Nashville", included 26 miles (42 km) of light rail and 25 miles (40 km) of bus rapid transit, was later rejected 64% to 36% in a local referendum in May 2018.

See also

• List of bus transit systems in the United States

References