Mayor of Nashville unveils 5.2 Billion dollar Transit Plan which includes Light Rail (Gallatin: transplants, sales) - Tennessee (TN) - City-Data Forum

oobanks · 10-17-2017, 01:31 PM

Mayor of Nashville unveils Massive Transit Plan, over 5 Billion which includes Light rail and Tunnel.

Mayor Barry unveils $5.2 billion transit plan for Nashville | WKRN News 2

Mayor Barry unveils sweeping $5.2 billion transit proposal for Nashville with light rail, massive tunnel, bus upgrades

jmecklenborg · 10-17-2017, 10:48 PM

This is very exciting news. What's interesting about this plan is that it completely ignores West End/Vanderbilt, which is where I always assumed a plan would start. That's where this is tons of ridership right now. But by building on these four radial roads instead, a lot of future development will be to some extent dispersed. This will keep that area from getting overbuilt. There is a lot of opportunity to redo the streetscapes of Nolensville, Gallatin, and Charlotte. Make them into something really nice. Seattle did this with their MLK light rail about ten years ago.

So if Nashville keeps growing at a speedy clip and it looks like it's going to hit 3 million by 2035, they could build a subway line under Broadway that heads to Vanderbilt. That line could interchange with the planned station at 5th in front of the arena.

mjtinmemphis · 10-18-2017, 06:57 AM

I can't wait to see what the voters will say. LRT isn't cheap. Nashville can't move forward with without increasing taxes. If you want big city things you have to pay for them.

septimus · 10-18-2017, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

This is very exciting news. What's interesting about this plan is that it completely ignores West End/Vanderbilt, which is where I always assumed a plan would start. That's where this is tons of ridership right now. But by building on these four radial roads instead, a lot of future development will be to some extent dispersed. This will keep that area from getting overbuilt. There is a lot of opportunity to redo the streetscapes of Nolensville, Gallatin, and Charlotte. Make them into something really nice. Seattle did this with their MLK light rail about ten years ago.

So if Nashville keeps growing at a speedy clip and it looks like it's going to hit 3 million by 2035, they could build a subway line under Broadway that heads to Vanderbilt. That line could interchange with the planned station at 5th in front of the arena.

they tried starting along West End/Vanderbilt and Lee Beaman along with the Americans for Prosperity killed the AMP project. (I will never buy a car from Beaman)

N.Cal · 10-18-2017, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

I can't wait to see what the voters will say. LRT isn't cheap. Nashville can't move forward with without increasing taxes. If you want big city things you have to pay for them.

Thankfully there are a lot of transplants now here who know, have used and will use public transportation. And who know that they must be paid for.

jmecklenborg · 10-18-2017, 10:00 AM

>they tried starting along West End/Vanderbilt and Lee Beaman along with the Americans for Prosperity killed the AMP project. (I will never buy a car from Beaman)

I believe that the AMP project attempted to use TIGER new-starts grants or something else from the Obama era and they were going to try to do it without raising taxes. Local politicians didn't put a lot of capital behind it and let it die.

This proposal is totally different. They got the current mayor and three previous mayors to come out to the press conference. That's a huge deal. That shows that this plan has broad support amongst political donors, who are usually the area's largest business and real estate guys.

Look at how the Tennesseean article give the Tea Party just two sentences. The poor little Tea Party is about to get run over with some steel flanged wheels. Big business is going to buy off the opposition and make them go away. This thing is going to pass.

mjtinmemphis · 10-19-2017, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.Cal

Thankfully there are a lot of transplants now here who know, have used and will use public transportation. And who know that they must be paid for.

Yes!

DonCorleone · 10-19-2017, 07:49 AM

First: I'm very excited about the proposal. While it'll cost a ton and create all kinds of headaches to build and take years to create, I think it's the kind of big splash the city needs to make a significant dent in what is becoming a stifling problem. It also piggybacks well with the airport expansion (did anyone else notice the light rail connection to BNA?).

That said, if I'm a council member, I have a very hard time getting behind it. The hotel and sales tax increases seem reasonable enough. But a 20% business tax increase? That's huge. And potentially harmful. While I'm also being asked to consider a MLS stadium and airport expansion?

I'm sure more data will come out on how they came about that figure and why it's justifiable...but knee-jerk reaction is that seems a bit high. Now, is it still necessary? I could see that it might be. But if I'm a small business owner in Davidson County, a 20% business tax increase stings...and makes me entertain the idea of moving.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to it...but I think there's going to have to be one heck of a sales job to get it through as is.

Too bad there's going to be no financial support at the state level for the proposal.

edit: So I forgot about the referendum part...the sales tax and business tax increases will have to be approved by voters via referendum in May.

oobanks · 10-19-2017, 08:18 AM

I have to Totally Agree, this is the Shot in the Arm Nashville Needs and well over due!!! I'm wondering though, and i'm sure this be passed on or at least provided in the Amazon's bid as what's to come. I know it hasn't even passed yet but as some earlier posters have stated it is likely to Pass for several reasons. Could this be a serious selling factor for the city in it's bid. I think the biggest thing that people tend to forget is these Amazon offices, jobs and projects are going to take years before it's completed, constructed, etc., just like Nashville Transit Upgrades. This will all be a process... I know we tend to look at Nashville as a Dark horse but depending on what Amazon is looking for you might want to lighten the horse a bit, it just might Surprise us All!!!

jmecklenborg · 10-19-2017, 10:00 AM

The high sales tax is what Nashville gets for being in a "low-tax" state. No state income tax and no municipal earnings tax means sales tax must be high. I saw someone elsewhere snort "remind me to not buy a car in that county". When this thing is running you won't need one.

If this thing passes in May we're going to see an explosion of new construction in areas where there has already been a smattering of new construction. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2-3 year-old new construction single-family homes near Trevecca Nazarene demolished for high-rises.

One of my friends bought a typical house right off of Gallatin Pike for $100k back in 2010. The thing could already fetch $300k and since he's the first house off the main drag he'll be able to hold out when a developer comes along to knock it down. He might be able to get $400k for the thing by this time next year.