The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has given the thumbs-up to Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Choose How You Move transportation improvement program, aiming to reshuffle the transportation deck in Nashville and its neighboring counties. According to information from the Mayor's Office, this endorsement could pave the way for a vastly more connected region. The RTA, covering a 10-county stretch around Nashville and responsible for services like the WeGo Star and commuter buses beyond county lines, clearly recognizes the need to fully step up the transportation game.

Mayor O’Connell articulated a sentiment of regional solidarity in his statement, "The RTA is composed of county and city mayors from around Middle Tennessee who know that we can and should do better than our current transportation system." He sees the RTA's approval as a beacon, signaling that Nashville could soon become the beating heart of a more in-sync Middle Tennessee transit system. The 86 miles of new sidewalks, smart traffic signals for about two-thirds of the city’s intersections, and bus service enhancements aim to make transit not just available but reliably safe and frequent.

Choose How You Move is a plan with each component designed to bridge the divides in every single corner of Davidson County and beyond. The proposed initiative could become reality with a yes vote on the November 5 ballot, unlocking the necessary funding to attract over $1.4 billion in future federal investment for regional transportation over the next 15 years. 

WeGo CEO Steve Bland expressed gratitude for the RTA mayors' support, stating, "We appreciate the support of the Mayors in the RTA. The resolution is a recognition that Nashville is at the heart of a growing Middle Tennessee transit system." To really drive engagement home, the Metro staff are actively holding transit talks to bring the knowledge directly to the people. Nashvillians interested in getting the low-down on these changes can easily request a neighborhood transit talk through an online form provided by hubNashville.