NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced his intention Thursday to pursue funding for public transportation and infrastructure through a November referendum.
During a press conference on Thursday morning, O’Connell said that he is moving forward with his plan to secure dedicated funding for public transit improvements, which will include sidewalks, optimized traffic signals, and more WeGo transit centers.
The mayor said he was given the green light from both the city’s legal and financial offices, all that is left is to put together the referendum and show it to voters on Nov. 5.
“This is, in many ways, our last best chance to take a huge step forward as a city together. This will be up to all of us,” O’Connell said.
Nashville voted down the first transit referendum in 2018, which included 26 miles of light rail and a tunnel underneath downtown.
O’Connell said this plan would likely not include light rail as a significant element.
“What we’re going to propose is going to be very ambitious for Nashville, to have a dedicated funding at all for our transportation infrastructure is going to be a significant step forward,” O’Connell said “And I don’t believe a heavy investment in rail is necessary to accomplish the goals of moving around the city, the affordability and livability aspects. We are not going to foreclose on that as a potential option but it is not going to be a signature element of the plan.”
City leaders will now work to determine how the plan will impact taxpayers, and where the tax dollars to pay for the project will come from. That is expected to be announced sometime next month.
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