Nashville Voters to Weigh Transit Funding

The city’s mayor is proposing a referendum that would create a dedicated source of funding for public transit and pedestrian improvements.

1 minute read

February 20, 2024, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of Nashville, Tennessee skyline with river and bridge in foreground against sunrise or sunset sky.

Nashville, Tennessee. | Larry Gibson / Adobe Stock

According to an article by Tony Garcia and Michael Warrick for WSMV 4, the mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, Freddie O’Connell, announced a November referendum that could create a dedicated funding source for public transit and pedestrian infrastructure.

“The mayor said he was given the green light from both the city’s legal and financial offices, all that is left is to put together the referendum and show it to voters on Nov. 5.” The referendum will include public transit, sidewalks, and optimized traffic signals, but does not propose a significant investment in rail—likely because a 2018 transit referendum that included 26 miles of light rail was rejected by voters.

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