Murfreesboro leaders have started rewriting the city’s transportation future, kicking off an update to the long-range plan that will guide how people move through town through 2050. A joint City Council and Planning Commission workshop this week dug into a draft 2050 Major Transportation Plan as the city wrestles with rapid population growth and big regional projects, from TDOT’s proposed I-24 “Choice Lanes” to local signal upgrades and a new transit center that could shape commutes for decades.
What officials reviewed
As detailed by the City of Murfreesboro, officials met on Wednesday, April 8, at City Hall for an update on the 2050 Major Transportation Plan and a “Traffic 101” briefing for council and planning commissioners. City staff emphasized the session was informational only, with no actionable items on the table, and focused on growth forecasts, potential future corridors, and how short- and long-term projects could be phased into the wider plan.
Choice Lanes and regional pressure
One immediate concern on the city’s radar is TDOT’s I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project, which would add price-managed lanes roughly between I-40 and I-840, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Local coverage notes TDOT held public hearings in March to present a recommended preferred alternative and gather comments as the agency refines the plan, according to WSMV.
Local moves: transit and signals
At the same time, Murfreesboro is building out local options. The city opened a new Murfreesboro Transit Center in September 2025 and launched a west-side pilot bus route in February as it tests expanded service inside the I-24 loop, according to the City of Murfreesboro. Planners have also pushed signal upgrades and corridor widenings, including projects tied to Medical Center Parkway and Old Fort Parkway, that feed into the 2050 plan’s scenarios, and local reporting has followed council votes and reallocations related to those corridors, with outlets such as Rutherford Source tracking those investments…