Public Transportation in Nashville (Franklin, Gallatin: 2015, credit, home)

[lovetravel]

Hello,
I was wondering on a scale of 1-10 how you would rate Nashvilles bus and commuter rail system?

Is it easy to live in Nashville without a car?

[ariesjow]

It's very difficult to live in Nashville without a vehicle at the moment and will be for foreseeable future. The commuter rail line only goes from downtown to Lebanon which isn't one of the most populated corridors. Apparently, it was really cheap to make this the one the first line because the rail isn't owned by CSX. The bus system is improving, but is still under-utilized for the size of the metro and in need of further tweaking.

With that said, there are some great changes underway. Nashville will be getting its first BRT line, the East-West Connector, running through the many of the popular core neighborhoods. The Connector will hopefully open by 2015. Here's a video of the plan:


East West Connector - YouTube

[BirdieBelle]

I would rate its current system a 3.

It is very difficult to live here without a car unless you are able to secure both a job and a home right off a bus route.

[DonCorleone]

Can I use a negative number?

Agreed with Wmsn...3 sounds about right. It's possible to get by without a car especially if you're inside the loop/downtown area. But if you're anywhere near the suburbs it would be pretty difficult.

[nashvols]

Inside Briley/Thompson Lane (city's core) I'd rate the bus system about a 6. Outside of that...probably a 3 in most of the built up areas of Davidson County. Outside of Davidson, 0.5.

If you are dependent on bus travel, there is only a limited area that will be suitable to live in...and you better work relatively close by. Basically you're stuck in a relatively small portion of the metro unless you want to pay expensive cab fares, wait for certain times of day to take express buses, or depend on a friend to drive you around.

It's possible...I wouldn't recommend it...but you can live/work close to town and get by with walking/biking/using the bus.

I think it will change in time...but for right now, it would probably suck.

[CountryGirl2b=]

I have to give credit where credit is due and although it doesn't run more than once an hour, the Franklin Trolley is really a nice way to get around and with patience, I can get to a LOT of places using it. Kudos to Franklin for keeping it running!

http://www.tmagroup.org/franklin-transit/

[GWoodle]

The Music City Star commuter train gets 1 star. Good only from Lebanon to Donelson & downtown. Runs 1-2 trains morning, evening. 1 Friday nite run. Special tickets will be sold for July Fireworks & Sunday home Titan games.
Free parking at most stations & transfer to 3 free downtown MTA bus. Get the schedule & fare info from the MTA website.

If you live on a major street, Gallatin road from downtown to Rivergate gets a 6. The first BRT route cuts 10 minute travel time from the normal bus. Other routes get a 5 on weekdays but lower on weekends. There are a few suburban to Nashville bus routes.

For commuting, your employer may have some type of "share ride" RTA van type bus from home to work.

From 10 years ago or 3 years ago (after the flood) the MTA has improved the bus fleet to have working A/c & a bike rack on every bus. The Music City Star uses 30 yr old ex-Amtrak locos pulling 50 yr old ex C&NW/Metra cars. Rail fans may like them, others may not mind so much. It is our train.