NashTransit

Stranded?

Transportation For America asks, are you stranded at the station?

Strategic Master Plan Draft Posted

MTA has posted the first draft of its Strategic Master Plan. Lots and lots of details. They've put a whole lot of work into this.

A few things coming soon: Bus Rapid Transit along Gallatin Road is starting in September. Fifteen stops between Music City Central and Sam's Club. At peak times, it will have a 15 minute frequency. Also, look for a Downtown Circulator route coming in the spring.

Nance Arena Landport

Since Nance Arena Landport is on land potentially to be used for a new convention center, MTA is now moving those transfers to Music City Central. This makes up many of the route changes effective August 2.

Metro magnet schools are changing start times to accommodate: Tennessean

Route Changes

Route changes coming August 2. Details here.

New Public Hearings Soon!

Four MTA public hearings are scheduled for the last week in July:

• Tuesday 7/28, 5 - 6:30 pm
  North Branch Library, 1001 Monroe St
• Wednesday 7/29, 11:30 am - 1pm
  Music City Central (Community Meeting Room), 400 Charlotte Ave
• Wednesday 7/29, 5 - 6:30 pm
  Southeast Branch Library, 2325 Hickory Highlands Dr
• Thursday 7/30, 5 - 6:30 pm
  Green Hills Library, 3701 Benham Ave.

These meetings cover the Strategic Plan MTA has been working on, to lay out the next 25 years of public transit in Nashville. MTA says the draft strategic plan will be posted on their site on the 28th. The planning process is nearing its end, so this is the time to speak up.

If you have comments and can't make the meetings (or even if you can!) email them to mta.publicmeetings@nashville.gov. (And post 'em here, too!)

Oh, and about that dedicated funding source?

"Governor Phil Bredesen today signed four pieces of legislation into law at a ceremonial bill signing ceremony at the Capitol."

...

"Regional transportation authorities that work improve mass and increase mass transit options on a multi-county or regional level are allowed to establish their own dedicated funding sources under new provisions to the Tennessee law."

tennesseeanytime.org

Where’s that Bus?

MTA Buses Going High-Tech - Newschannel 5

Actually, I thought GPS units were already installed on all the buses (which is how they know when to announce the next the next stop over the loudspeakers), but soon the GPS data will be put to much better use. Cool!

Lots going on!

There's a public hearing tomorrow (June 2nd at 6:30 pm) on Metro Nashville's operating budget for the next fiscal year. Drop by the Metro Courthouse and put in a good word for public transit! Or, if you're not all into that public oration thing, just write your council representative.

Discuss the future of mass transit in Nashville at a town hall meeting at the Civic Design Center downtown. It's this Thursday, June 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

And finally, the really good news: even as gas prices are rising at the pump, diesel prices for MTA will be stable for the next two years. So no big unpleasant surprises anytime soon, and we may likely see improved service later this year.

That New Bus Smell

MTA's brand new hybrid buses made a debut today. Here are some pictures from the first trip, with local media, transit officials, mayor Karl Dean and other guests in attendance.

Our trip was just a quick jaunt out to East Literature Magnet School, and back downtown on another hybrid bus. This was a real scheduled bus trip, and we picked up a few surprised passengers along the way.

It really did have that new bus smell! It was a nice smooth ride. Obviously, it's also much quieter than the traditional diesel buses. Much easier to carry on a conversation with 61 of your closest friends when you're not competing with a noisy engine.

Of course the real benefits are in fuel efficiency. Channel 5 reports MTA CEO Paul Ballard as saying the new buses are 34 percent more fuel efficient. Maintenance costs are also reduced.

There are currently 6 new buses, each costing about $840,000. That's about $140,000 more than a new diesel bus, so it will take a few years to make up the difference, depending on the price of oil. If you're thinking long term, though, this is the way to go.

These new buses will be running the usually jam-packed #26 Gallatin Road route. Soon they'll be destined for the bus rapid transit (BRT) route along the same corridor. Like most MTA buses, they have GPS systems on board. With BRT, traffic lights along the route will 'know' the buses are coming. Buses won't change red lights to green (wouldn't we all like that technology!) but they will keep green lights green a little longer if it will help the bus keep on schedule.

Thanks to MTA for the sneak peek!

New Routes Posted

New bus schedules are posted on MTA's web site.

(Turns out #8 isn't every half hour at peak times, but it is a more frequent.)