Will MASS TRANSIT Reduce Traffic Jams?

Jan 17, 2018 at 07:12 pm by bryan


Metro Transit Authority's Director of Community and Legislative Relations Eric Beyer told the Murfreesboro Rotary Club that new state legislation may help Rutherford County solve its mass transportation problems.

He was refering to the IMPROVE ACT that was signed into law by Governor Bill Haslam. It increased the gas tax statewide and allows cities and counties with a population of 100,000 or more to hold their own referendums. Both Murfreesboro and Rutherford County qualify. The referendum could impose a capped surchage on taxes already collectd to be dedicated to transit projects.

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Beyer told NewsRadio WGNS how this new law could help us locally . . .

(Time: 13-seconds)

Beyer noted, "In the past, before a city or county could consider having a referendum, it would have to seek approval from the Tennessee General Assembly. This allows larger cities and counties to control their own destiny, and not be required to ask the state for permission to do something at home."

He noted, "There are 53,294 residents who travel from Rutherford County into Nashville every day, and that number is growing. Unless a form of mass transportation is developed, the traffic jams will only get worse".

Beyer told the local Rotary Club members that with an improved public transportation system, traffic jams would dramatically be reduced. He shared a few ideas that might make it easier to travel.

  1. Allow buses to exclusively use of the shoulders of roadways and the interstate.
  2. Install special traffic signalization that allows buses to move swiftly through areas.
  3. Offer fast, all day bus service between Rutherford County and Nashville. This could include light rail on Murfreesboro Pike (highway 41-70).
  4. Create a better passenger experience for those who use mass transit systems. This would include a simpler fare payment system, more comfortable vehicles and better waiting facilities.

Just like Leadership Rutherford develops citizens who learn how to make the total community better, a special Transit Citizen Leadership Academy has been formed to train us ways to solve the transportation issues. The first class will be February 21st through March 28th. Citizens from all 10 Middle Tennessee counties can sign-up now. It shows residents how to create a multi-modal transit system for use by all of the region.

If you would like to be a part of this program or simply get more information, contact Associate Director Jessica Dauphin at 615-587-1099 or email jessica.dauphin@thetransitalliance.org.

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