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.

1 minute read

June 11, 2019, 2:00 PM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry resigned amidst scandal last year, and with her went Let's Move Nashville, a transportation package that voters rejected by a 64% to 34% marginTransitCenter calls the vote "a stunning defeat for a plan that consistently polled well and enjoyed support from the Chamber of Commerce and dozens of business and civic organizations." But as critics tell it, Let's Move Nashville suffered from major flaws besides its association with the former mayor. 

For one thing, TransitCenter reports, "with 80 percent of the funds earmarked for building five light rail corridors and a tunnel through downtown, a relatively small percentage was left over for bus and pedestrian improvements"the kinds of projects current transit riders actually want. Some associated the plan with an overeager appetite for transit-oriented development, stoking gentrification fears.

In the year since, "transit supporters regrouped, determined to grapple with what went wrong and learn from past mistakes. A year after the vote, a new coalition is reviving the transit conversation in Nashville." They include the advocacy groups behind the Nashville Community Transportation Platform and a broad coalition including business groups called Connect Mid TN

The new coalition wants to place greater emphasis on community engagement, which they say was definitively lacking last time. But they may have to contend with lackluster backing from city leaders like Mayor David Briley, "whose support for transit is lukewarm at best."

Thursday, June 6, 2019 in TransitCenter

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

3 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

5 hours ago - UNM News