[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6226594,"mediaKeyId","3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f","parentId",3504403,"title","WeGo CEO outlines timeline for low‑income fare rollout, court‑ride partnership and hiring gains","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",2125000,"endMs",2438000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f&start=2125&end=2438","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f/thumbnail_2125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226594/Tennessee/WeGo-CEO-outlines-timeline-for-lowincome-fare-rollout-courtride-partnership-and-hiring-gains","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226594-b959743585c67118fdd280dbba880361/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682999&Signature=NFxZJ-vwxl4DfXYCPTYVswumJvIBSgbviaNnCZxX4hAuPY~7tQ4eqHmGamLibD2gkCOZas-oqW7AyVA6WP-AjUmTdgU71ObiSIDOqhehzU7jTlFraqE~o9-hEdQkGloMYIEQxVzqeyKnc4qfzgr3MFkt5LG3-Iw3l8x3eLbte4QXeYFgXvqqsTaXxE371vFQyb8p3hJGwS0HI3F2Up-C2ym~XvvBYoU-2sS73KpYmZSsQOkXpoxMfUdq25vk6DkvMWnRVkShgAO3mMOCitTgiy~ccQhNRe6YfphCXkOu08XKMhxFWqqvduD1XdyzPi6YgUpUwlcGQPe0lpzQyqapxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-05-23T08:33:55Z","article","WeGo Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland briefed the Nashville MTA board on a set of operational and program items, including a planned low‑income free‑fare program, a partnership to provide WeGo Access rides for some court participants, workforce hiring results and facility and regional coordination work.

Bland said outreach with social service partners and advocacy groups is underway to implement a low‑income free‑fare program funded under the city’s Choose How You Move initiative and that staff expect to recommend implementation measures to the board. “Ultimately, what all of this work will do is help us to develop recommendations that will come back to this board for actual implementation of the low income fair ticket program. And we expect that we should be able to begin to roll that program out by the end of this calendar year,” Bland said.

Bland also described a newly announced partnership with the district attorney’s office to provide WeGo Access trips at no charge to individuals for whom transportation to court proceedings is a barrier; rides will be provided for people working with the DA’s vulnerable adult investigative team and victim witness support divisions. He credited Access manager Marilyn Yokeley and DA staff for developing the program.

On workforce development, Bland reported that a recent WeGo hiring event produced on‑the‑spot screening and interviews and resulted in 145 offers of employment across operator, custodial, servicer and other classifications. Bland said agency and airport staff are coordinating to phase planned service expansions to the airport, and he summarized regional transit work on the Donaldson Station public improvements and the July transition to a new regional bus contractor, Anchor Bus.

Bland closed by praising the youth presentations earlier in the meeting and noting continuing organizational hiring and service expansion work tied to the city’s transportation initiatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/22/25 Metro Transit Authority","oneSentenceSummary","CEO Steve Bland told the Nashville MTA board that staff expect to roll out a low‑income free‑fare program by year’s end, announced a partnership to provide WeGo Access rides for certain court participants, reported 145 job offers from a recent hiring fair and summarized coordination with the airport and RTA projects.","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},6226599,"Board amends consent packet to add two items for Trapeze/Vontas sole‑source procurement, then approves consent agenda",111,1235000,1346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f&start=1235&end=1346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f/thumbnail_1235000.jpg","/articles/6226599/Tennessee/Board-amends-consent-packet-to-add-two-items-for-TrapezeVontas-solesource-procurement-then-approves-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226599-975b6666e57d8bd78dbe730dd6afaec1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682999&Signature=S~U0EzUYkwI7gsKBuduWQaOkVAE-BKi6gB9wJpxpwwmANSd9fd0hNC7iqNPBqtM4RBBKdKO5-ObA-wHi5HrP7rV5zkdIXcYadt3bBw3~Y35tq9GPuv6~vR01D23b90Jb1Oft9I9Bjf9ksxM6Rjaz6ZCVjUq1-FrocOvuww42RvreE6H9gp2m6UacCaFnZPcF7aS439l8o2yGsLjt4EmUa~G~PEabOHrjbBj~qjXgbc-y9sPvAmcMmnZuSeBcHIAjQfhpjrtoIqvRv8jdMoUn6lIyeLCvX1xE~rReUGEsWXYFdRgZX7DHKQtegNUPADzbUIoYSFtfXFgME4HxHuS2pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nashville MTA board clarified and approved an addendum to a consent‑agenda procurement that authorizes a sole‑source purchase from Trapeze Group and Vontas Enterprises for enterprise operations software and hardware.

Board member Jessica Dalton noted that the mailed packet omitted two bullet points under items requiring additional funds. “The packet that was mailed out, we inadvertently left off the last 2,” Dalton said. She told the board the omitted items — an automated passenger counter project on 13 New Flyer buses and onboard computer‑aided dispatch/vehicle‑location hardware and training — were already intended to be part of the scope and were simply missing from the printed packet.

After Dalton’s clarification the board moved, seconded and approved the consent agenda with the addendum by voice vote. No member requested the item be pulled for further discussion.

Staff indicated Rob McElhaney was available to address any technical questions about the Trapeze/Vontas scope if board members required more detail.","Board members confirmed two inadvertently omitted line items — automated passenger counters for 13 New Flyer buses and onboard CAD/AVL equipment/training — to a sole‑source authorization for Trapeze Group and Vontas Enterprises, then approved the consent agenda by voice vote.",{"_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},6226604,"WeGo reports small quarterly ridership decline; North Nashville Transit Center reshapes travel patterns",210,1783000,1993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f&start=1783&end=1993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f/thumbnail_1783000.jpg","/articles/6226604/Tennessee/WeGo-reports-small-quarterly-ridership-decline-North-Nashville-Transit-Center-reshapes-travel-patterns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226604-bb71fb0d3a78f892bc4bba0ce99f617e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682999&Signature=HsmyYA0dvnVrGaNZU7RNNvUYn~Q0jae4eh4trMWrh04dfINPP6Vzx2cO3eMAdNmQg-hu~zwRX2tp4GocriAkxn0FaB6c-mjfV2Gi1QkXJ7Z9-kr93Dyp9oRMwydDCmUV5P7ACBtii4HCQEM05fVUgDnnyFZ9nP0eW1BnZf3wvjlLt-qqJ5EqeJJINUeM2pUyM~8XByTwM5cahOJ6qjxT7E0dluMwk3LbTvIEWQ53R1JidwON0fRWMp0h3rc2hp3j6X7mFslnEt2idb3pAR4nKbfy4Y9b9ZhP55QlXwA119xleU3LQHhjewy-bcRokVemnm~lpyaT5l-0Kp8NaCcdpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WeGo staff told the Nashville MTA board that ridership for January through March 2025 was about 2% lower than the same quarter last year, and that service changes tied to the new North Nashville Transit Center are altering travel patterns.

Katie Freudberg, scheduling and service planning manager, said winter weather contributed to the modest ridership decline and cited year‑over‑year continuations of recent trends. “Ridership this quarter was down about 2% from the same quarter last year,” Freudberg said. She highlighted steady increases on Route 56 (Gallatin Pike) and unexpected declines on Route 8 (Eighth Avenue) and Route 55 (Murfreesboro Pike).

Freudberg said one major local effect of the North Nashville Transit Center and the related service redesign was a redistribution of trips. Route 22 (Bordeaux) showed a large decline partly because portions northwest of the river were renumbered into other routes; however, overall ridership serving the transit center has more than doubled since last year. The two crosstown routes operating there last year — Route 75 (Midtown) and Route 77 (Thompson/Wedgewood) — had ridership five times higher this quarter than they did last year, according to staff.

The agency also reported substantial increases in transfer activity where cross‑town and frequent routes intersect, with several intersections showing 30%–500% increases depending on the pairing. Staff said these shifts are the intended result of the transit center and the service redesign and that a deep dive into maps and ridership graphs is planned for upcoming months.

The quarterly report concluded with staff saying they will continue monitoring whether the observed changes are seasonal fluctuations or sustained shifts in travel behavior.","WeGo told its board ridership fell about 2% in the January–March quarter versus the prior year, while service changes and the new North Nashville Transit Center produced major shifts in how passengers travel and increased transfers on cross‑town routes.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226608,"Board approves SPATCO contract and 30% contingency to close decommissioned NESTA fuel tanks",167,1387000,1554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f&start=1387&end=1554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f/thumbnail_1387000.jpg","/articles/6226608/Tennessee/Board-approves-SPATCO-contract-and-30-contingency-to-close-decommissioned-NESTA-fuel-tanks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226608-a750ab5a80794276a4572203568425e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682999&Signature=ZlP2dI~uL8FGADDVjJvhEXnAxBQawrPVQAsOweb~E88FGuzNFdAJQJhoaeK8Lrt5O3YdFAkrpSRb0j6iC3fgH3jmZa2hWHizKAUByRFFsEOY-ekTRxyxu-jxb~eKXREha95UUcv6IAcxMnrT-jt9fxqkAhqhMSqCEfjSil2c7RcnHi1CZDkoKk9u8Pm9OPtbk8qkDuoqOFRWIiscRna~8YJUcghmUcLpDydJGaGnhhliifFMvMAawL9lmSSFYlLX~HT-TySeEv8Na2KJ3NdpXn17jmohEzkpQPVC1AsG-wUjsqaROf0hx--C-Mln1vwTkYJQuFpXzNCc~ZyV9oDkPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nashville MTA board approved staff’s recommendation to contract SPATCO Energy Solutions to remove decommissioned fuel storage tanks at the NESTA operations facility and authorized a 30% contingency for subsurface unknowns.

Patrick Hester, presenting the action item MA25021, said the single responsive bid after clarifications was $368,878.53 and staff recommended authorization for that contract. “The staff recommends the board to authorize the chief executive officer to enter a contract with SPATCO Energy Solutions for $368,878.53 to close decommissioned fuel storage tanks at Nestor,” Hester said. He added staff requested a 30% contingency because the project involves potential unknown subsurface conditions, which brings the total project budget to $479,542.

Hester told the board this work is part of the capital plan for state‑of‑good‑repair NESTA improvements and will use Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 (FTA 5307) funds with required state and local match. Board members asked clarifying questions about whether the tanks were emptied and about the funding already being programmed; staff responded that the tanks are emptied and closed and that the funding sources were already in the capital program.

The operations and finance committee moved MA25021 to the full board; a motion, second and voice vote followed, with the chair calling “all those in favor, say aye.” The board approved the action as presented.

Board discussion also referenced other planned NESTA site work — sinkhole repair, employee lot repairs, fuel island relocation and riverfront stabilization — and noted that a long‑term site feasibility study funded through the city’s supplemental appropriation will continue as the agency seeks a future facility site.","The Nashville MTA board authorized the CEO to contract SPATCO Energy Solutions to close decommissioned underground and above‑ground fuel tanks at the NESTA operations facility for $368,878.53 and approved a 30% contingency, bringing the project budget to about $479,542 using FTA Section 5307 funds with state and local match.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226612,"WeGo youth action team reports year of outreach, bus‑stop cleaning and a New York study",702,524000,1226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f&start=524&end=1226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504403-886f2ee5a23bbe225b14f939ff04db1f/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6226612/Tennessee/WeGo-youth-action-team-reports-year-of-outreach-busstop-cleaning-and-a-New-York-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226612-e3f1dc85d3073b2c0f41ea3867667798/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682999&Signature=DLR8HFy~iYKFHwYfZ4f0nNv5IUkYi25tAUmxkGvz7Vi5xPPYIcWE-ik65bQlb1n4Bj9Mtl124e4hM1oW9bQwL3XiyWxSsEyz9OlpOVsO3CXt4zrgcVFhKNfXykyX1t-QLdHUpvpL83Y~9yT221IzxRjifL5rHyV8tthGX~Kr6WyDpBtnxdFLKFkQVkBaFJTyHOwEmM69RN3ZAZCUJr0pj~HS~sou-klw0M2dYZMNteogvb62461eRduWUma~pMepv8iLb-0xHIBHdmtdg6dAnuc2Vt2~lqcZTRpTYJNSXEPcjmwIpjULXArbL4AO8c-zdd~Na4T0TsvdT7WsjKxJ6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The WeGo Youth Action Team presented its year‑end report to the Nashville MTA board, describing outreach events, social‑media content, a New York study and volunteer efforts to clean bus stops.

The team, housed at the Oasis Center and coordinated by Alyssa Vega, said eight high school students produced materials and direct outreach aimed at increasing youth transit ridership and improving rider experience. “It is a team of 8 high school students who are just incredibly passionate about public transit and increasing the culture and youth ridership of transit in our wonderful city,” Vega said.

Students summarized specific activities and results. Anna Chan said the group staffed a WeGo tent at Celebrate Nashville to distribute flyers and speak with voters about a transportation referendum. Jack Ross described social‑media videos produced ahead of high‑attendance events to promote youth ridership. Michael Epstein described teams that rode routes to pick up trash, wipe shelters and sanitize benches to counter stigma about bus cleanliness. The group also reported a funded trip to New York for field interviews and a subsequent report, enabled by a local memorial fund and WeGo support.

Board members praised the presentation and encouraged returning students to reapply; the board’s public comments and chair remarks noted the presentations as a recurring highlight. The students’ slides and a written report were left with the board for reference.

The presentation occurred during the NICE (New Initiatives and Community Engagement) committee portion of the meeting and concluded with applause from board members.","Eight high school students in WeGo’s Youth Action Team outlined outreach events, social‑media campaigns, a New York transit study and volunteer bus‑stop cleaning during a year‑end report to the Nashville MTA board.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WeGo CEO outlines timeline for low‑income fare rollout, court‑ride partnership and hiring gains

Board amends consent packet to add two items for Trapeze/Vontas sole‑source procurement, then approves consent agenda

WeGo reports small quarterly ridership decline; North Nashville Transit Center reshapes travel patterns

Board approves SPATCO contract and 30% contingency to close decommissioned NESTA fuel tanks

WeGo youth action team reports year of outreach, bus‑stop cleaning and a New York study