[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6304834,"mediaKeyId","2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558","parentId",2453091,"title","WeGo seeks $77.7 million in new operating investments and a 30% operating reserve in FY25-26 submission to Metro","audioSeconds",5664,"startMs",5664000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558&start=5664&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558/thumbnail_5664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304834/Tennessee/WeGo-seeks-777-million-in-new-operating-investments-and-a-30-operating-reserve-in-FY25-26-submission-to-Metro","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304834-3e4891ae4c1c03a28608b84fe8031f9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953121&Signature=cvZ42rCrr07U~sUtIHCyUI0APPB777WhqnXTfsHqYUwGu1298thQXDLfkSgmS555PsKKOrJbET6PYTp6PtNll5z~hZfCF4a2nEu4c0IFSkAbZTmm6wgMIC1c6CrC~3Ibc4-M7FDoBwzz~voWVQEyFzl~HKjmXeG1PnvTvWd-ll8~hOvXTH8W7xSG9x6nZf6MZx~8oPnzCuZcp-qyt4y0~MCSbLoqjA~cZTSj0XaYUTrwmtnJp7chb7G7LK6qcDkJ3o73jSnYruO8d8ryn1Li71W~6GzjW96ldhPgJ6bhGGqzhic32YwYXoCTBCQNuclfZzkTMmxg~lhiiUucqzhtKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-02-28T10:45:27Z","article","WeGo staff submitted their fiscal year 2025-26 operating request to Metro as required by the Metro budget calendar. The submission contains a baseline operating request and a substantial investment package tied to the Choose How You Move program.

Baseline and investment totals: The baseline operating request submitted to Metro was $88,800,000 to continue current services with inflationary adjustments. The investment request totals $77,700,000 and is composed of one-time and recurring proposals related to Choose How You Move. The largest single line in the investment package is a proposed one-time transfer to an operating reserve: $47,200,000 to establish a minimum operating reserve equal to 30% of operating expenses (three months). Staff said this reserve would provide short-term liquidity, reduce reliance on the agency line of credit and increase competitiveness for federal grants tied to capital projects.

Why it matters: Staff emphasized that the city's Choose How You Move referendum created a new dedicated revenue stream that Metro will collect and distribute and that a funded operating reserve would help an expanding service manage cash flow and start-up costs for new service corridors. The board will see additional budget conversations as Metro council and finance offices consider supplemental requests and the timing of funds.

Breakdown of the investment request: Staff presented four buckets:
- Direct service expansion ($7,800,000): additional fixed-route frequency and span increases, expanded weekend and evening service, added WeGo Link pilot zones and a low-income fare subsidy program.
- Safety and security ($6,300,000): contracted security coverage increases, development of a security plan, facility upgrades, an ambassador program and additional MNPD coverage where needed.
- Service quality and reliability ($4,500,000): recruitment, retention and training initiatives for operations staff and drivers, including funding to hire and retain additional operators tied to service expansion.
- Capital program delivery ($1,400,000): agency capacity to design and deliver the capital elements of Choose How You Move.

Other notable items: Staff proposed using federal formula funds differently than in recent pandemic-era years by directing formula dollars back to capital to reduce reliance on supplemental federal allocations for state-of-good-repair projects. Staff also noted that Metro is collecting the Choose How You Move revenues and the timing of any Metro supplemental appropriation will determine how quickly WeGo can obligate funds. If Metro approves a supplemental appropriation in March, some FY25 work could start in April; otherwise staff said implementation likely waits until later in the fiscal year.

Board direction and next steps: Staff will return with additional budget details and prioritized implementation plans as Metro's finance office evaluates the submissions. Amanda said the agency will seek board approval of the final operating budget in June and requested feedback on the draft reserve fund policy that would create the 30% target and authorized uses and replenishment rules.

Ending: The board asked staff to monitor supplemental actions at Metro and to align the final budget and implementation sequencing with Metro's decisions; staff said it will provide additional briefings on timing, equity assessments and grant-readiness as the process progresses.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/27/25 Metro Transit Authority","oneSentenceSummary","WeGo staff submitted a FY25-26 baseline operating request of $88.8 million and an investment request of $77.7 million to Metro, including a one-time transfer to create a 30% operating reserve.","taxTitle","Transit Authority Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",69328,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304839,"Votes at a glance: WeGo board approves bus purchases, safety plan update, Link pilot zones and security contracting",1955,2476000,4431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558&start=2476&end=4431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558/thumbnail_2476000.jpg","/articles/6304839/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-WeGo-board-approves-bus-purchases-safety-plan-update-Link-pilot-zones-and-security-contracting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304839-4d957fce00177ff82915926a3083ac1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953121&Signature=hh9Tw0sh7X4--MvpyXqHiPq1LdE01mpB7lTIJejh8pXEdGgpCzF4sVaBkQEsnfTtBGTbw1pWDG0pjjIvNJK2TE7S8BuUdLflBmiLIRzayKJPoV5Mc5nzBaW-iBpUdY11mwOG1DuXFO8palBNxcIM-nrJ9JCnUEp3JG~gLmTd798fCHqiB9HGtwyGHY4Ns8h6xDWm2hSnf4m9V55WdCNKfA~7FSKZm6AdXelE6vTP43orJXTfngMBLqyAYCuBT4Fml025F6sDOMM3qHO3gos68HmfUsaS5pyHFzH9iIyYMpFkwubAvHfTjjTCp5zafJvvi5yhVD1bwiJ8Myr44Dt7jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority board approved five action items during the meeting: a 12-bus purchase under an existing Gillig contract, the agency's annual public transportation agency safety plan update, permanent adoption of three WeGo Link pilot zones after a Title VI review, award of a contracted security services agreement, and an amendment increasing the outgoing contractor's ceiling during the transition.

1) Purchase of 12 40-foot clean diesel buses (MA25006)
The board approved staff authorization for the chief executive officer to execute a contract for 12 expansion 40-foot clean-diesel buses from Gillig under an existing five-year contract. Staff said the buses are expansion vehicles tied to the Choose How You Move service expansion and estimated delivery in Q2 2026. The staff-requested not-to-exceed price was $666,483 per bus plus $12,000 per bus for tools and training, for a total per-bus price of $678,483 and a purchase authorization of $8,141,796. The motion passed on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

2) Agency Safety Plan update and safety performance targets (MA25007)
Staff presented the annual public transportation agency safety plan update required under the FTA rule and the safety committee's performance targets. Nick Oldham summarized historical performance and proposed FY25 targets (example: bus-side projection 34 safety events, 38 injuries; projected miles between mechanical breakdowns). The board authorized the chief executive officer to execute the updated safety plan to maintain compliance with the FTA rule; the motion passed by voice vote.

3) WeGo Link pilot zones and Title VI analysis (MA25008)
Staff presented three proposed permanent additions to the WeGo Link microtransit pilot zones following Title VI equity analysis. Felix said the Title VI review found no disparate impact beyond the 20% threshold used for screening and recommended adding the three zones permanently. Board member Aron Thompson moved to accept MA25008; the motion was seconded and carried on voice vote.

4) Contracted security contract award (MA25009)
After Marine Tiger presented its assessment and staff completed a competitive solicitation, the evaluation committee recommended Archangel Protective Services. The board authorized staff to execute a three-year base agreement with Archangel with two one-year options; baseline not-to-exceed three-year cost reported as $8,172,170.88. The board approved the award by voice vote; staff reviewed Archangel's references and described reporting and GPS tracking requirements in the solicitation.

5) Amendment to existing security contract (MA25010)
Staff requested an increase of $540,000 to the existing Allied Universal Security Services contract to cover the remaining months of the extension and to ensure continuity during transition to the new vendor. The board approved the amendment by voice vote.

Ending: For several items the board asked staff to return with more detailed implementation timelines and performance reporting; for the security contracting the board asked for follow-up briefings after the contractor is operating and for defined KPIs to be included in the contract.

","The Nashville MTA board approved five action items: purchase of 12 40-foot transit buses, an annual safety plan update, three permanent WeGo Link pilot zones, award of a new security contract, and an amendment to the existing security contract to cover transition.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304844,"Parents, riders press Nashville MTA for faster security changes after downtown station shootings",2661,152000,2813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558&start=152&end=2813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2453091-1eccf9246cd3987a648621f46cadc558/thumbnail_152000.jpg","/articles/6304844/Tennessee/Parents-riders-press-Nashville-MTA-for-faster-security-changes-after-downtown-station-shootings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304844-8ed58ddeea8c453bca10557d6b50bc05/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953121&Signature=osCVDFvPXx28oVzqfgoEnM-wbxr8wRsu1G820yyjNr6yt7DtizKvJDNkcOWfguMkIzE9mKDKxn398tXvnGS1XmEzHaVh2cQHbM1Hd96xx67huEqDkQULwiPpJhlbRsHej6NLu0ebskgUW6LU2~Ywfrg7nyx2S2A-95zapR89EypLdWqLu9VJPNKDR1ai-qRJm0U8OVsjt1qq3p9esc6PZB-xW7wLzUU1W67rgS2dXJ9NaQOV3-dMeCk-9aiacnhzhBs2cm~lQpGUuVM7wSh547P6AbrXeZ8ScP4HRjryzevCebsnijdStEdfR-TEhO1k6S~n-H0pbclCmiu4eAdoBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority board meeting urged immediate security improvements at the downtown Central Bus Station after recent violent incidents and a November 19 shooting mentioned by multiple speakers.

Board members heard a security assessment from Marine Tiger that recommended increased on-site security, a transit-focused police liaison, an unarmed ambassador program trained in trauma-informed response, improved lighting and cameras, and installation of physical barriers on buses. The board then voted to award a new security services contract and to amend the outgoing contract to ensure no gap in coverage.

Why it matters: Thousands of middle- and high-school students transfer through WeGo Central each afternoon, public commenters said, and parents told the board they no longer feel confident letting children use the system unsupervised. The board and staff said they will move quickly on near-term fixes while developing longer-term policy, staffing and technology changes.

Public comments and callers described a sequence of incidents that prompted their appeals. \"Less than 2 months later, someone opened fire, killing a student just as he was transferring to the very same number 7 bus,\" public speaker Emily Bridal said while recounting what her son and classmates experienced. Ben Tran, who identified himself as \"chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission,\" said his son has reported seeing guns and other incidents and asked the agency to \"take security measures so that all Nashvilleians feel safe.\" Other parents described assaults and frequent loitering at stops near the downtown terminal and urged a coordinated plan with Metro Nashville Public Schools and Metro Police.

Consultant findings and recommendations: Marine Tiger presented an asset-and-threat security assessment that linked vulnerability, consequence and probability to prioritize mitigations. Lead assessor Michael Steinle summarized the recommendations as three tiers: policy-level changes, investments under agency control, and procedural items that require little funding. Key policy recommendations included leveraging the newly announced Metro Nashville Police transit lead (Captain Brian Williams was identified earlier in the meeting as the mayor's transit lead) and creating a trauma-informed ambassador program to address noncriminal social and behavioral problems with unarmed staff. Investment recommendations included a security operations center for incident coordination, increased patrol presence at major transit centers and targeted on-route patrols, expanded video and communications technology, improved lighting at stops, and physical operator barriers on buses. Steinle noted many procedural items were already underway or complete, including lighting and bollard fixes at specific stops and camera maintenance protocols.

Board action on contracted security: Staff recommended switching security coverage to Archangel Protective Services after a competitive solicitation that sought firms with de-escalation training, GPS officer tracking and real-time reporting. Nick Oldham, presenting the procurement summary, said the recommended contract would begin April 1, 2025. The board voted to approve MA25009, giving staff authority to sign a three-year base agreement with Archangel, with two one-year extension options. Archangel's baseline three-year not-to-exceed cost for the service as submitted was $8,172,170.88; an expanded coverage model recommended by Marine Tiger would total $14,112,905.28 if additional funding is made available. Oldham and staff said Archangel officers will not be armed and that the firm was selected in part for its reporting and retention programs and references from Metro agencies.

Transition amendment to existing contractor: To prevent a coverage gap while the new contract begins, staff also asked the board to increase the current Allied Universal Security contract by $540,000 to cover the remaining months. The board approved MA25010, the amendment to the existing security contract, so Allied Universal will remain in place until Archangel assumes operations April 1, 2025.

Discussion and next steps: Board members repeatedly emphasized coordination with Metro Nashville Police Department and noted the appointment of a transit liaison should speed cooperation. Board members asked for performance reporting from the new contractor after implementation and requested that staff return with performance metrics and regular updates. Nick Oldham and staff said reporting requirements and key performance indicators will be built into the contract and that both Archangel and Metro Police leadership will be asked to brief the board after a few months of operations. The consultant and staff also noted many recommendations could be carried out in parallel: procedural items, training and a number of low-cost lighting and signage fixes are already in progress.

Ending: Staff and the consultant said the board can expect follow-up briefings on implementation timelines, contract performance measures and the ambassador program scope as funding becomes available.

","At a Nashville MTA board meeting, parents and riders described witnessing violence at the downtown Central Bus Station and urged immediate steps. The board heard a consultant's security assessment and approved a new contracted security provider and a short-term extension to the outgoing contractor to ensure coverage during transition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WeGo seeks $77.7 million in new operating investments and a 30% operating reserve in FY25-26 submission to Metro

Votes at a glance: WeGo board approves bus purchases, safety plan update, Link pilot zones and security contracting

Parents, riders press Nashville MTA for faster security changes after downtown station shootings