The speculation about a planned transit investment program in Nashville began in August, and now the mayor is throwing full support behind a referendum that would raise four kinds of taxes to pay for a $5.2 billion in transit investments.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry this week "unveiled a monumental proposal for a $5.2 billion mass transit system, the most expensive, far-reaching and complicated project in Metro history," reports Joey Garrison.
Planetizen last caught wind of this ambitious transit infrastructure investment package in August, after the Nashville Metro Transit Authority released a "High Capacity Transit Briefing Book" [pdf] to map out the prospective system. Now Mayor Barry is pushing for a May referendum "to approve via referendum raising four taxes to pay for the massive undertaking," according to Garrison. "Leading the way as a revenue generator would be a one-half percent hike to the sales tax that would jump to 1 percent in 2023. [The mayor has] also proposed increases to the city’s hotel-motel tax, rental car tax and business and excise tax."
FULL STORY: Mayor Barry unveils sweeping $5.2 billion transit proposal for Nashville with light rail, massive tunnel

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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