An historic transit referendum will be on the ballot for Nashville residents in May after some final political maneuvering over the matter of the plan's cost.
"Following action Tuesday by the Metro Council, Nashville voters will decide May 1 whether to raise four taxes, including the sales tax, to pay for a sweeping mass transit plan, anchored by light rail and a massive downtown tunnel," reports Joey Garrison.
The transit program proposed by the ballot vote "is headlined by a combination of 26 miles of new light rail, more robust bus service, and a 1.8-mile tunnel below downtown," explains Garrison.
The City Council made some 11th hour changes to the transit referendum proposed by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, by deciding "to list both the transit proposal's present-day cost of $5.4 billion as well as the estimated amount of long-term revenue needed for the project, $8.95 billion." Mayor Barry wanted only to list the lower total. The article details the current political dynamics of the vote—which political leaders and advocacy groups have coalesced around the pending vote.
FULL STORY: Nashville council votes to add transit referendum with two dollar amounts to May ballot
Following a Failed Referendum, Nashville Transit Advocates Regroup
Last spring, voters resoundingly quashed Let's Move Nashville, a $5.4 billion plan to build out the city's transit options. The plan paid too little attention to current riders, advocates say, and they aim to do things differently.
Nashville Transit Referendum Soundly Beaten at the Ballot Box
Transit advocates suffered a resounding defeat in Nashville yesterday. The Let's Move Nashville plan does not have the funding to build-out its ambitiously pro-transit agenda.
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Voters in the city of Seattle will consider a sales tax to fund bus transit service, while voters around the state of Washington will have a chance to send new leaders to Congress.
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California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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