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
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.