Nashville locals aren’t holding back on this one. I asked what Nashville should have figured out by now, and the answers came fast, specific, and a little exasperated. Here are the ten things that came up again and again.
Traffic That Actually Moves
This one topped the list by a mile. People are frustrated with interstates that were built decades ago and never widened to match how much the city has grown. The stretch where I-40 West meets I-440 gets singled out constantly, since it’s stayed a single lane since it opened. Add in the three interstates that all collide right downtown, and you’ve got a traffic knot that never really loosens.
The fix people want isn’t complicated. Wider highways, more lanes in each direction, and maybe a beltway that actually wraps around the whole city instead of just the south side. Simple ask. Just apparently a hard one.
A Real Mass Transit System
Right behind traffic is the demand for something, anything, that gets cars off the road. Light rail, subways, grade separated transit, a train system connecting to Union Station. The specifics vary, but the message doesn’t. Nashville needs a way to move people around that isn’t four wheels and a prayer.
A few people pointed out that this conversation isn’t new. The city has been having it for years without much to show for it. If you’ve ever sat in gridlock on your way to Broadway, you already know why this keeps coming up.
Parking That Doesn’t Punish You
Parking made the list constantly, and not just because it’s hard to find. The cost is what really gets people. Prices downtown have climbed high enough that visitors are noticing, and locals are downright annoyed…