Transit Now is a grassroots organization in Nashville that promotes mass transit options and raises awareness of their benefits. Its goals are to provide an online resource for decision makers, raise awareness of transit issues, and make the financial case for transit in Nashville. The presentation outlines encouraging ridership, reviewing past transit studies in Nashville and peer cities, and ends with a question and answer session.

4. Our Mission
Transit Now is a grassroots organization with a mission to promote mass
transit options and raise awareness of its benefits for the people living in the
Greater Nashville Area.
www.transitnownashville.org
Our Goals
• Provide an on-line resource for decision makers
• Raise awareness about mass transit issues and Transit Now Nashville
• Make the financial case for providing mass transit in Nashville

5. Mar. 18th

6. CityTHINK
Presentation Outline
• Encouraging Ridership
• Downtown Circulator
• Review of the past transit study
• Research in Peer Cities
•Wrap up session – Q&A

7. Precedence Research
Nashville Civic Design Center:
The Plan of Nashville
Cumberland Region Tomorrow
Urban Land Institute - Infrastructure 2008
Nashville Area MPO studies
TDOT PlanGo and Nashville’s Downtown
Transportation Plan
Nashville MTA – Strategic Master Plan

8. Nashville’s Transit History
Source: www.historicnashville.com

9. Downtown Circulator

11. Downtown Circulator

12. Downtown Circulator

13. Downtown Circulator

14. Fosters More Livable Communities
• Transit impacts land use
• Transit can stimulate
development location & type
• We need effective with policies
and actions that promote TODs
Source: www.apta.com/research/stats/ Source: prairiecrossing.com

15. Boosts Real Estate Values
• Real estate – residential and
commercial – served by
public transportation can
command higher rents and
maintain higher value than
similar properties not as well
served by transit.
Many examples include:
– Dallas
– Denver
– San Diego
Source: www.apta.com/research/stats/

16. Stimulates Economic Development
• $10 million in capital investment
yields $30 million in increased
sales, while each $10 million in
operating investment yields $32
million
• Every $1 taxpayers invest in public
transportation generates up to $6
in economic returns
• And transit creates and sustains
jobs – 47,500 for each billion
dollars invested—and yields a six-
fold return on public investments
Source: www.apta.com/research/stats/

17. Provides Mobility for Seniors
By the year 2025, 20% of the
U.S. population will be 65
and over and many will be
unable to drive.
One fifth of person 65 and
older do not drive.
Source: www.apta.com/research/stats/

18. Americans Want More Transit
Public Transit Ridership
Set a 52-Year High in 2008
In Nov 2008, voters in 16
states approved 74%
of public transit-related
ballot measures despite the
economic conditions
Image source: www.rideuta.com

20. Supporting MTA
• A Voice in the
Community
• Awareness of
MTA Needs and
Goals
• Research and
Best Practices

21. What We Know
45% Increase in Ridership Since 2002
More Transit, More Options!
Priorities

22. Improving the Image of Transit
Marketing
How-to-Use-Transit Training
Enhanced Amenities

23. Encouraging Ridership
• How-to Films
• Video Contests
• “Man on the
Street”
• User-generated
Content

24. Transit Week

25. What’s In It For Me?
• Environmental Impact
• Economic Benefits
• Ease and Convenience

26. Challenges
• Intimidated/First-time Users
• Socioeconomic
• Convenience

28. Downtown Circulator
• Making Connections
– Land Use
• Civic
– Municipal Buildings
– Parks and Greenways
– Transportation Nodes
• Commercial
– Retail
– Office
– Hotels / Convention Centers
– Entertainment
• Residential
– Condos
– Apartment Buildings
– Town homes

29. MTA Circulator Concept

30. Downtown Circulator
title
• Two Types of Circulators
– Inner City
• Downtown Connections
• Civic Nodes
• Business Districts
• Entertainment
• Medical Districts Insert Image
– Inner Neighborhood
• Civic Nodes
• Business Districts
• Entertainment
• Inner Ring Neighborhoods

31. Downtown Circulator
title
• Strategies
– Branding (Highly Visible)
– High Frequency
– Dependable
– Connect to existing Transit

32. Downtown Circulator
THE GREEN LINE

33. Downtown Circulator
title
• Phasing
– Phase I – Bus Shuttles
– Phase II – Light Rail Connector
– Phase III – Light Rail System

34. Downtown Circulator

36. Downtown Circulator
April Urban Design Forum
“The Downtown Circulator - Part II”
Thursday, April 16th 5:30 – 7:00 PM

37. The Plan

38. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components

39. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components: Metro Square

40. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components: Metro Square

41. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components: Public Square

42. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components: MTA Transfer Hub

43. Policy 1: Multimodal Transportation
Components: Clement Landport

44. Policy 9: Implementation Phase I
Components: Trolleys

46. Peer Cities
• Criteria for comparison may include:
– Population
– Density
– Industries and Employment
– Attractions
– Geography
– Government

47. Downtown Circulators
• The gap between regional and on foot
transit options:
– Can be bus, street car or light rail in form
– Functions as the connection between regional
and commuter transit hub to destination areas

48. Jacksonville
• Circulator served by trolleys and skyway

49. Jacksonville
• Trolley System
– Three free routes
– One route connects downtown to a nearby
neighborhood with midday service for 50
cents a ride.
– Free summertime trolley to nearby beaches

50. Jacksonville
• Skyway System
– An automated monorail system with trains
stopping at stations every 3 minutes during
peak periods and every 6 minutes at other
times
– Interconnected with free trolley service
– Will connect to BRT lines
– Offer low cost Park-N-Ride facilities for
commuters and visitors

51. Louisville
• Bus and Trolley service similar to Nashville

52. Louisville
• How their Circulator works
– Historic replica rubber tire trolleys on two main
routes:
– Trolley runs every 12-15 minutes weekdays
– Runs every 12-20 minutes on Saturday
– Route hours vary; some evening service

53. Louisville
• Details
– Fare is 50 cents
– Trolley stops are clearly marked
– Free trolley service for their First Friday art
crawl and their Last Friday tour of Frankfort
Avenue restaurants, art galleries and shops
– Connection service to traditional bus
circulators.

54. Raleigh-Durham Triangle
• Recent report [May 2008] recommends:
– Enhanced Local & Regional Bus Network
– Circulators
• Airport to business and convention center districts
• Downtown Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill & Cary

55. Raleigh-Durham Triangle
• Recent report [May 2008] recommends:
– Heavy Rail [Diesel Multiple Unit]
• Between cities using existing railroad ROW
– Light Rail
• Between Chapel Hill to Durham

56. Raleigh-Durham Triangle
• How it works
– Historic replica rubber tire trolleys on two main
routes:
– Trolley runs every 12-15 minutes weekdays
– Runs every 12-20 minutes on Saturday
– Route hours vary; some evening service

57. Other Cities to Consider
• Portland
– Multimodal
• Denver
– Free downtown shuttle
– Linked to light rail & commuter rail
• Tampa
– Trolley and light rail
– Funded by TIF (discounted fare for residents in TIF
zone)

58. Best Practices
• Links to other modes
• Free service in core
• Easy to use
• Parking opportunities
• Attractive

59. Best Practices
• High frequency
• Connections to nearby neighborhoods
• Evening & weekend service
• Special event service
• Serve residents, tourists, & employees

61. Wrap up Session - Q&A
Weekly Meetings
NCDC 11:30-1pm