In this episode, host Bryan Barrett sits down with State Representative Mike Sparks to dig deep into the challenges and opportunities of mass transit in Middle Tennessee — especially as it relates to the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project. They explore how this optional tolled “choice lanes” plan, proposed to run between Nashville and Murfreesboro, could offer motorists a more reliable travel option during peak congestion. The conversation covers how the lanes would be developed via a public-private partnership (P3), the role of the Transportation Modernization Act in funding, ongoing environmental review, public feedback, and possible heavy truck access. Tennessee State Government

Listeners will gain insight into:

• How “choice lanes” differ from traditional lanes and how pricing would manage congestion

• The tradeoffs and equity concerns involved in tolled lanes

• The status of environmental assessment and stakeholder input

• What mass transit integration (buses, rail) might look like around I-24

• How local and state leadership are balancing growth, mobility, and sustainability

Whether you’re a commuter, urban planner, or public policy enthusiast, tune in to understand how the future of transportation might reshape life along I-24.