Cities like Charlotte, Austin and Denver have something Nashville and its surrounding counties don’t: regional mass transit.

"And I want it," Mayor Karl Dean told community leaders and transportation planners gathered last week to talk about creating such a system in the 10-county Nashville area.

The May 27 conference looked at how transit has been developed in other places and how those experiences might translate to Nashville. It was put on by Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a nonprofit growth and planning group, and other organizations.

Few specific steps emerged, amid presentations that offered food for thought and a look at where the region has been.

But Dean did have one action item. He called for leaders in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties to create a work group — successful in other cities — that will formulate concrete plans for mass transit that people actually want and would use.

"This is where we find the money, design the plan and implement the plan," Dean said. "We need to be bold, not afraid and push forward fast."

State legislators have set up a funding source dedicated to public transportation projects. The bill passed both houses this session and awaits action by the governor.

About a dozen leaders from Cheatham County attended the summit, including James Fenton, the county’s economic and community development director.

“It was refreshing to see that many people from all these counties come together and understand what needs to be done and see Mayor Dean lead the charge,” Fenton said.
Fenton added that it’s important that Cheatham leaders develop a long-term vision for the county as the mass transit plan moves forward.

“We need to decide where we see ourselves in the future,” he said.

In order for the mass transit plan to succeed, Fenton added there must be vision and support from all participating counties.

Michael Skipper, executive director of the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the region must plan now even if the results don't happen right away.
 

Skipper pointed to the growth already witnessed here. In 1965 in the 
10-county region, there were 750,000 people. Now, there are 1.7 million people, and the population is expected to grow by 1 million more by 2035.

"Congestion is getting worse and commutes are getting longer," he said.

The task force that Dean suggested would make action plans to create light rail, rapid bus service, or even a downtown streetcar.

The newest push for commuter rail has been between Clarksville and Nashville, the northwestern corridor.

A feasibility study shows that the line could be planned and completed in five to eight years at an estimated cost of $144 million. The yearly operating costs would be about $5 million.

The Clarksville Urban Metropolitan Planning Organization has been actively working on the project. Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper talked about the project at the summit.

The line would use existing right-of-way owned by the Nashville & Western Railroad, sister company to the Nashville & Eastern.

One obstacle, though, is that the track between Clarksville and Ashland City, representing about half of the most likely commuter route, has been dismantled.

More than six miles of the rail bed in Cheatham County has been turned into the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail, a popular walking path that draws users from throughout Middle Tennessee.

Skipper said people have to remember that any project will require time to plan and build transportation infrastructure, but that planning must start early.

"Any substantial plan to connect the two areas with transit will rely on our ability to establish a dedicated source of funding to help leverage federal funds to pay for it," Skipper said.

"Those federal funds are currently going to other cities and regions that are ahead of us on this issue."

Tim Adkins of The Ashland City Times contributed to this story.

To read the full article in the Tennessean, please click here.