[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6268425,"mediaKeyId","3055511-0870e4664c5265d90417ae23786f360a","parentId",3055511,"title","TLC approves consent agenda items, renewals and some company applications; denies expansion and new-app requests tied to 40-permit finding","audioSeconds",2162,"startMs",340000,"endMs",2502000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055511-0870e4664c5265d90417ae23786f360a&start=340&end=2502","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055511-0870e4664c5265d90417ae23786f360a/thumbnail_340000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268425/Tennessee/TLC-approves-consent-agenda-items-renewals-and-some-company-applications-denies-expansion-and-new-app-requests-tied-to-40-permit-finding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268425-7816c6c88f5aaa027ebbf121aeae07f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978811&Signature=luClzF16y24hSXhsP47fo9iAWw4lXd1AjI8ue7mlNuS2uD-uBbbSSOvKXo6HgIKRDErBSwRIzNNo~Kb6~ES9P4cBhx0pcnLg3GV87hFuHuG5AmsbLl2i9Qs4EcS95bj1cXF8A5t0jmCLQm7vztj24I2gDxajxvsvUfwQhJl1eGlTks~t1Zsq8UnYfq9XH0zbcYiowtz2BcXhQ0TUYf3HGPBQCGQlsDTXLYf9t5HkIYOsogJj0pBQvHXiUOGsap6RqFItjmUmWRiw-GLqYTABEucOkT~-5Lk0C1kyX3A4OsrRh~4of9XUxmhfnVy2wnVvYGj2CwqRxB0-UBH3eJJ1SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-04-19T00:31:58.793Z","article","The Metropolitan Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission approved a series of consent-agenda items — including new company applications for other passenger vehicles for hire, renewals of existing companies that met packet requirements, and administrative changes such as address and ownership updates — and recorded several motions to deny or defer expansion requests tied to the commission’s prerequisite finding of 40 permits.

Routine approvals: Commissioners voted to approve multiple new-company and reapplication items submitted with staff recommendations. Staff told the commission the applications were in order and recommended approval for new other-passenger-vehicle-for-hire company applications (examples read into the record: Bluebird Blue LLC; Elite Ride LLC; Sunshine Black Limo; Wingman Transport LLC; Beer Hat Transportation; JC Travel Executive LLC; AJ Luxury Transportation LLC; Black Cars Nash; Executive and Private Travels LLC; Lewis Drivers and others). The commission also approved reapplications for companies that failed to renew timely but had complete packets (examples: Williams Prestige Transport LLC; Fly 13 Black Limo Service; Upscale Journeys; JROD Transportation LLC; Affordable Nashville Limousine; Deaf Transportation Services) and approved a new general-record towing application (D and D Towing).

Administrative items: The commission approved address-change requests, a name change (Maxtra GG), and an ownership modification for HD, HC Deluxe Transportation LLC after staff confirmed paperwork was in order.

Entertainment-transportation renewals and conditional approvals: In the entertainment-transportation agenda, commissioners renewed many existing permits with no change requested (list recorded in the minutes) and approved one company’s renewal pending a disciplinary hearing so the company could continue to operate while the disciplinary matter is scheduled. Commissioners took separate action to deny most requests for additional permits or expansions that would increase the downtown ETV count in keeping with their 40-permit finding.

Votes at a glance (selected outcomes recorded on the agenda):
- Motion to approve minutes: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve listed new other-passenger-vehicle-for-hire company applications (Bluebird Blue LLC; Elite Ride LLC; Sunshine Black Limo; Wingman Transport LLC; Mahabad International; Beer Hat Transportation; JC Travel Executive LLC; FND; AJ Luxury Transportation LLC; Black Cars Nash; Executive and Private Travels LLC; Lewis Drivers): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve reapplications for companies who failed to timely renew (Williams Prestige Transport LLC; Fly 13 Black Limo Service; Upscale Journeys; 3 Guys and Bow Ties; JROD Transportation LLC; Affordable Nashville Limousine; Deaf Transportation Services): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve D and D Towing (general record and towing services): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve address changes for listed OPVH companies (Ahmad Limo, Shine Transport, Nashville Vegas Limousine LLC, Maxtor GG): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve name change Maxtra GG: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve ownership modification for HD, HC Deluxe Transportation LLC: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to renew existing entertainment-transportation company permits without change (list recorded in minutes; B and T Transportation excluded pending disciplinary hearing): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve B and T Transportation renewal pending disciplinary hearing: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to deny expansion/change requests that would increase ETV permits (multiple applicants): approved (voice vote).
- Motion to deny new-application requests for Get to Know Nashville LLC, Music City Mafia, Nashville Bronco Tours, and Nashville Mural Tours because of the prerequisite finding: approved (voice vote).

Notes on process and enforcement: Staff reminded the commission of procedural constraints (statutory limits on revoking grandfathered permits and the need for disciplinary hearings to remove a permit). Commissioners asked staff for monthly enforcement and complaint reports from HUB Nashville, environmental court and the traffic-and-parking bureau.

Ending: The commission recessed normal broadcast at the end of the public portion to complete driver background reviews and closed portions of the meeting not open to the public.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/17/25 Transportation Licensing Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved a set of routine company applications, renewals and administrative changes on the consent agenda and denied or deferred multiple requests for additional permits in line with its prerequisite finding that 40 entertainment-transportation permits are appropriate downtown.","taxTitle","Transportation Licensing Commission Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",73014,"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},6268430,"TLC sets target of 40 entertainment-transportation permits after annual hearing; operators and downtown advocates spar over impacts",1366,124000,1490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3055511-0870e4664c5265d90417ae23786f360a&start=124&end=1490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3055511-0870e4664c5265d90417ae23786f360a/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6268430/Tennessee/TLC-sets-target-of-40-entertainment-transportation-permits-after-annual-hearing-operators-and-downtown-advocates-spar-over-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268430-082e25c8d46392532e627340959d852e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978811&Signature=P0v3h7nrVbUWTbmkoZjC1NKlbTNEs1DeeH-qEyuiXMP3-J0aLXLkJQwhGcOdAIGI25Oq-sp4kukkoglr5qMifVPdh3qezghnulnUxWFZ~WilzRoLSWGC~LA~66wf8lKRs-A5vr4XyAY5kde0GV7MiDYbNl2rgowJtD8~4tlZO-5ShT5-wVVATJZT4ZFZE525SdCmSlMtu7E1jbAjrANFc3djSFfNzYQGvrwiLIVZsmRBdUPRMCNQClhQwgfmNXHpQaszvBFC3QLGIegQI7ExZEt7VdmHU4-VLP2BB4PkuRALThgO1sHumq7g~4-I7pNijCfLDtSEq8rxF9y-OEWvxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission on its annual entertainment-transportation hearing set a prerequisite finding that 40 entertainment-transportation vehicle permits is the appropriate number to meet the public convenience and necessity in downtown Nashville.

The commission made the finding after staff and outside-study presentations and more than two hours of testimony from business owners, tour operators and downtown advocates. Director Grant Rooker told commissioners they must first make a numeric finding of how many entertainment-transportation providers and vehicles are required before considering individual permit requests.

Why it matters: The finding guides whether the commission will approve new permits or changes to existing permits and frames later enforcement and rulemaking. The commission said the 40-permit finding aligns with the traffic and operations analysis in the Connect Downtown study, which the commission and staff used as a primary data point.

The Connect Downtown study found that “ETVs contribute to about 80 seconds of delay for each vehicle in the entertainment district” and recommended the city consider reducing the number of entertainment-transportation permits downtown. As the study's presenter noted to the commission, “approximately 40 permits would have a less significant impact on traffic congestion” in the downtown core (Connect Downtown presentation, transcript packet, appendix F). The presenter also described implementation steps under way — pilot loading/ride-share zones, scooter zones, and signal timing projects — and said the city will evaluate traffic after those changes are implemented.

Public comment and operator testimony: Jeanette Barker of the Nashville Downtown Partnership urged the commission not to issue any additional entertainment-transportation permits, saying the group “do not believe any public convenience or necessity exists for the request for the requests for additional permits before you today.” Barker asked the commission to prioritize enforcement, regular review of complaints and a penalty rubric for repeat offenders.

Operators and applicants gave a range of testimony. Several small operators said they are economically dependent on an additional permit or a reclassification of existing permits. Heather Cormier (Nashville Ultimate Party Bus) and Roxanne Morgan (Big Green Tractor Tours) described administrative errors on prior applications and said those mistakes have left them with fewer usable permits than vehicles in service. Operators asked the commission for allowances such as weekend-only authorizations or route-restricted sightseeing permits that would not add downtown congestion.

Commission debate and legal limits: Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted state law limits the commission’s ability to reduce the number of already-issued permits; a permit can be revoked only after disciplinary proceedings or for six months of dormancy for permits existing when the statute was enacted. Staff advised that refusing to renew a historically issued permit is legally constrained. Commissioners discussed whether permit swaps (converting sightseeing permits to entertainment-transportation permits) should be allowed; staff pointed to TLC rule 801 and code sections referenced in the packet as the basis for separate factual findings for sightseeing duties (section 804) and the broader ETV category.

Action taken: A motion to set the commission’s requisite number of entertainment-transportation certificates at 40 carried (motion carries; there was one abstention). The commission then proceeded to consider renewals and change requests in light of that prerequisite finding. The commission renewed existing permits for numerous companies and denied or deferred requests that would increase the number of active entertainment-transportation permits downtown. The commission also approved renewal of one company’s application pending a disciplinary hearing so that the operator could continue to operate while the disciplinary matter proceeds.

What the commission signaled next: Staff said the city will run pilots (loading/unloading zones and test signalization changes) and collect data; staff and the study presenter said the commission will see follow-up evaluations after major operational changes. Commissioners asked staff to return with monthly summaries of enforcement and complaint activity from HUB Nashville, environmental court and the traffic-and-parking bureau.

Ending note: The commission emphasized that its 40-permit finding is an annual determination and can be revisited when new data from the planned downtown pilots and signal upgrades are available. Several operators pressed the commission for targeted flexibility — route-limited sightseeing permits or seasonally limited authorizations — and staff said rule or code amendments would be needed for certain changes.

","The Metropolitan Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission voted to set the number of entertainment-transportation permits it considers appropriate at 40, citing the Connect Downtown study and traffic impacts. Operators and downtown advocates gave testimony for and against new permits and permit swaps during the commission's annual hearing.","actionData","errors"]

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TLC approves consent agenda items, renewals and some company applications; denies expansion and new-app requests tied to 40-permit finding

TLC sets target of 40 entertainment-transportation permits after annual hearing; operators and downtown advocates spar over impacts