Donelson is on deck for a serious transit glow-up. WeGo Public Transit has unveiled plans for a new Donelson Transit Center that officials say will provide more frequent bus service and tighter train-to-bus connections in the east-side neighborhood. The project is part of a broader push to add about a dozen neighborhood transit centers across Davidson County so riders can make cross-town trips without always having to detour through downtown. WeGo says the Donelson hub will feature climate-controlled waiting areas, covered bus bays, and improved pedestrian access, all aimed at cutting down on long, transfer-heavy commutes.
The move follows a recent agency announcement and was first reported locally by The Tennessean, with the plan detailed in a WeGo news release. WeGo Public Transit says it will host open-house public meetings on March 30 (6–7 p.m.) and March 31 (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) at the Donelson Branch Library so neighbors can see designs and weigh in.
Why transit centers matter
Transit planners are pointing to recent neighborhood hubs as proof that this model can work. When the North Nashville Transit Center opened, routes serving that hub saw big ridership gains and more direct crosstown service. NewsChannel 5 reported about a 40% increase in riders on routes that began using that center within a year, a bump advocates say helps justify the investment. Supporters argue the Donelson project can do something similar, letting WeGo run higher-frequency service on corridors such as Lebanon Pike without routing every trip downtown.
Design, timeline and cost
WeGo's project overview calls for six bus bays with covered, accessible waiting areas, digital real-time signage, new vehicle and pedestrian access to Donelson Pike, railroad quiet zones, bike racks, and a future climate-controlled waiting room. The agency's materials put preliminary construction estimates in the $13–15 million range and say infrastructure work could begin in mid-2026, with the center building to follow in late 2026 or early 2027 and all improvements expected by the end of 2027.
According to WeGo, park-and-ride facilities and Star train service will stay open during construction, and the layout leaves room for potential joint development with private partners down the line.
How to weigh in
Residents can review project materials and attend the two public sessions at the Donelson Branch Library, 2714 Old Lebanon Pike, according to the library's listing. For those who cannot make it in person, The Tennessean notes that WeGo is also taking feedback online and by email.
