The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread

[MorganRehnberg]

Keep in mind that the site has a lot of horizontal constraints, one of which is NRHP-listed. There's practically no room to widen the bridge and the only candidate for clawing back width is the TWLTL which leads to some awkward lane shifts/tapers.
What's frustrating here is that at the time this was in the planning stages the Hyatt had not yet been built and the Tennessean's building was still standing. There could have been an opportunity to grab some extra ROW to the north at least.

I don’t think the road needs to be any wider, but seven lanes for what is a backbone road of downtown seems excessive.


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[markhollin]

Nashville is replacing its coin-operated parking meters with "smart" kiosks that accept payments through text, credit card and cash.

Metro officials say the system overhaul will coincide with stricter, more consistent enforcement of the street parking laws already on city books.

Metro Council approved a five-year contract with Georgia-based LAZ Parking on Tuesday to take over management of the "smart parking" program. The company will oversee the installation of the new Metro-owned meters, which will roll out over the next several months. Increased enforcement, education, new signage and some other aspects of the program may begin before the upgraded meters are installed.

The kiosks will accept payment through text, QR code, phone app, credit card, cash and coins. There will be no immediate changes to parking hours or rates, though adjustments may be made in the future.

Paper tickets will be a thing of the past as enforcement will take the form of electronic ticketing managed on a digital platform. Owner information will be gathered using license plates.

All tickets issued by LAZ Parking employees will be reviewed by NDOT staff, and Metro courts will handle citation payment collection. NDOT is working with the courts on how to handle a citation appeal process.

More at The Tennessean here:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2022/11/02/nashville-new-parking-meters-stricter-enforcement-what-to-know/69603715007/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NASH_11.03.2022_NOV&utm_term=NASHtoday: Subscribers - MASTER

[markhollin]

The sewer reconstruction around 12th Ave. North and Grundy St. continues:

Looking NE from Grundy St., at 12th Ave. North:
 

[markhollin]

The WeGo North Nashville Transit Center at Clarksville Hwy. and 26th Ave. North had its ground breaking last week.  

The $17 million project will build a modern facility that includes waiting rooms with Wi-Fi, real-time bus arrival times, bicycle storage, scooter stations, and pick up and drop off locations for ride apps.

This center is part of an effort to increase public transportation across Nashville while reducing the need to transfer downtown at WeGo Central.

It will be named after Civil Rights activist and member of the Nashville Freedom Riders, Dr. Ernest Rip Patton Jr., who died last year.

More at News Channel 5 here:

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/groundbreaking-ceremony-for-new-wego-transit-center-held-thursday?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NASH_11.14.2022_NOV&utm_term=NASHtoday: Subscribers - MASTER
 

[Bos2Nash]

The parking minimum bill (BL2022-1412) passed city council with flying colors last night. 24 council members voted in favor of removing parking minimums within the entire UZO. Approval came with two substitutes:

1. From Planning that converted the existing parking minimums into parking maximums. A development can go over the maximum via BZA approval, but that overage will count toward its overall FAR. 
2. A property with a Landmark Overlay dated after 11/15/2022 would be exempt and would still have parking minimums.

My understanding is the Landmark Overlay was targeted at commercial use buildings in residential areas. For example, East Nashville has a proposed event venue for 300 people, but originally had no parking. A landmark overlay would require that project to find parking to meet the minimums.

[colemangaines]

23 minutes ago, Bos2Nash said:

The parking minimum bill (BL2022-1412) passed city council with flying colors last night. 24 council members voted in favor of removing parking minimums within the entire UZO. Approval came with two substitutes:

1. From Planning that converted the existing parking minimums into parking maximums. A development can go over the maximum via BZA approval, but that overage will count toward its overall FAR. 
2. A property with a Landmark Overlay dated after 11/15/2022 would be exempt and would still have parking minimums.

My understanding is the Landmark Overlay was targeted at commercial use buildings in residential areas. For example, East Nashville has a proposed event venue for 300 people, but originally had no parking. A landmark overlay would require that project to find parking to meet the minimums.

Does this take effect immediately? Will we see any pending proposals reshuffled to remove or reduce parking?

[PaulChinetti]

2 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

The parking minimum bill (BL2022-1412) passed city council with flying colors last night. 24 council members voted in favor of removing parking minimums within the entire UZO. Approval came with two substitutes:

1. From Planning that converted the existing parking minimums into parking maximums. A development can go over the maximum via BZA approval, but that overage will count toward its overall FAR. 
2. A property with a Landmark Overlay dated after 11/15/2022 would be exempt and would still have parking minimums.

My understanding is the Landmark Overlay was targeted at commercial use buildings in residential areas. For example, East Nashville has a proposed event venue for 300 people, but originally had no parking. A landmark overlay would require that project to find parking to meet the minimums.

I thought it got bumped back to committee, because they were adding some crap about parking in residential areas? 

*admittedly I was following along via people live tweeting the meeting.

[CenterHill]

2 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

The parking minimum bill (BL2022-1412) passed city council with flying colors last night. 24 council members voted in favor of removing parking minimums within the entire UZO. Approval came with two substitutes:

1. From Planning that converted the existing parking minimums into parking maximums. A development can go over the maximum via BZA approval, but that overage will count toward its overall FAR. 
2. A property with a Landmark Overlay dated after 11/15/2022 would be exempt and would still have parking minimums.

My understanding is the Landmark Overlay was targeted at commercial use buildings in residential areas. For example, East Nashville has a proposed event venue for 300 people, but originally had no parking. A landmark overlay would require that project to find parking to meet the minimums.

This is a significant development and one that I agree with completely.    The UZO covers a very large area, including all of midtown which is currently overserved with parking structures. 

 

 

 

[Bos2Nash]

I believe it does take effect as soon as it is signed by the mayor (formality I believe). We may see some projects reshuffled, but I would think maybe to reduce parking to get under maximums. I don't think we will all of a sudden see more zero parking developments for large scale developments.

I agreed with the elimination of the parking minimums, but I am not a fan of the maximums (especially at the UZO minimums) and even less of a fan of the FAR implications. 

One example of why I don't like the maximums is the the ratio works out to about 3 parking spots per 1,000 SF of office space. Most leases look at 4 spots/1,000 SF. Looking at the NBJ report that shows the out of county office spaces are already doing better than downtown, I wouldn't be shocked if this now swings more in that favor. Another side effect will be the cost of parking will go up. While I am not opposed to this necessarily, there are folks NEED to drive into the city for work and they will be forced to pay more for parking. This will hit the lower wage workers the most, so there will be a definite hardship for a while.

To me there were a TON of ripple effects that this bill did not take into account that will result in some growing pains for the city.

[GregH]

I don't love the maximums either but hopefully it won't actually make much of a difference in practice.

As a related aside, I understand the $10/year residential parking permits are a political necessity, but I'd like to see a plan to phase those out long term, it's kind of contrary to the whole idea to provide extremely subsidized public space as parking for incumbents.

[PaulChinetti]

Employers will need to start paying for parking. My last job downtown did that. 

What do these residential parking permits cover and who is going to need them?

[GregH]

15 minutes ago, PaulChinetti said:

What do these residential parking permits cover and who is going to need them?

https://www.nashville.gov/departments/transportation/traffic-and-parking/parking/apply-parking-permit 

This is an existing program where street parking can be signed for residential permits only (usually only during busy hours) and the permits are only $10 a year. It's already in place in a bunch of streets in 5 Points and 12 South, at least. It makes sense as a political solution to resident complaints but, in my opinion, viewed in isolation it's pretty bad to be giving away in-demand public space to locals basically for free to the exclusion of everyone else.

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by GregH
additional context

[markhollin]

Clarksville Hwy. widening and new bridge over Whites Creek update.
 

[chc3]

Much needed. They also need to replace the blinker at Eaton Creek Rd and Ashland City Hwy with a traffic light. It can take up to 3 minutes to make a left from Eaton  Creek Rd.

[Bos2Nash]

On 11/17/2022 at 11:44 AM, PaulChinetti said:

Employers will need to start paying for parking. My last job downtown did that. 

My job currently does this, but I think some companies may stop when it starts to get expensive OR if they deem parking important for their employees, they will relocate out of downtown to avoid the high cost of parking.

[colemangaines]

Vonlane, an upscale bus line from Texas, has started service between Nashville and Atlanta. It looks like they run three busses per day, every day, directly from the Nashville Omni to the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. Meals and snacks provided. I just bought tickets to head down to ATL for Thanksgiving - if anyone's interested I can follow up afterwards.
 

 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening.  
Heavy traffic at BNA. 
Happy Thanksgiving and Be safe over there. 

[gannman]

6 hours ago, Sean blackdog said:

Today this evening.  
Heavy traffic at BNA. 
Happy Thanksgiving and Be safe over there. 

We need dedicated bus lanes to the airport.

[BnaBreaker]

I can't remember the last time I drove a car to the airport and parked it in long term parking.  It's such a joy being able to just pay a couple bucks, get on a train, not have to worry about traffic delays, and have a train drop me off inside the terminal.  Of course, I'm usually traveling solo and rarely need more than one suitcase.

Edited November 24, 2022 by BnaBreaker

[markhollin]

Grundy St. at 12th Ave. North being prepped for asphalt over the massive infrastructure dig/installation underneath.

Looking east from Grundy St., 1/1 block east of George L. Davis Blvd:

[Nathan_in_DC]

On 11/24/2022 at 4:53 AM, gannman said:

We need dedicated bus lanes to the airport.

It is so stupid that there isn't a dedicated airport bus with only a couple of stops (absolute max 3) to/from the airport with no-less than 15 minute headways, preferably 10 during peak hours, using dedicated lanes!

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from SKY5. 
Is that ur gifts? 

[lmc123]

TDOT proposing a fairly significant legislative change to speed up project timelines and enter into P3's:
Main link:
https://www.tn.gov/tdot/build-with-us.html

Slides:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/build-with-us/Tennessee-Challenges-and-Solutions-2022.pdf

White paper:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/build-with-us/Challenges-and-Solutions-White Paper-11-30-2022.pdf

[PaulChinetti]

"Choice Lanes" just call them toll roads. 

Admittedly I skimmed. But I didn't see any mention of public transportation, just more roads and more lanes.

Edited November 30, 2022 by PaulChinetti
spelling

[lmc123]

2 minutes ago, PaulChinetti said:

"Choice Lanes" just call them toll roads. 

Admittedly I skimmed. But I didn't see any mention of public transportation, just more roads and more lanes.

Some of the long range plans include BRT lanes