Estimated Cost Of New Nashville Transportation Plan Jumps To $6.93 Billion

Image Credit: Jonathan Cutrer  / CC

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Nashville residents can expect a newly proposed transit improvement plan to cost more than twice what was originally estimated.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell proposed the Choose How You Move program was originally slated to cost around $3.1 billion.

A November vote will determine whether city residents will face a 0.5% sales tax increase to help fund the plan.

If the proposal passes, that tax increase would go into effect on Feb. 1, 2025.

Reports released from an independent accountant on Thursday show that the plan will actually take $6.93 billion over 15 years. This amount will cover construction costs, operating costs, and expenses for financing.

If approved, the plan will add new sidewalks and updated traffic signals in the city. It would also expand bus services and build new transit locations.

“Ninety percent of Nashvillians told us through Imagine Nashville that they support investing in public transit and the Choose How You Move Program will get us where we want to go faster and safer, no matter how you’re moving,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell previously stated. “This is the best opportunity we’ve ever had to build out our priority sidewalks, to synchronize signals so you’re spending less time at red lights, and to connect neighborhoods via a better transit system that doesn’t have to come downtown just to go somewhere else.

The city has said they hope to be able to fund a portion of the project using $1.4 million in federal grant money that is allocated for transit improvement.