The Nashville Department of Transportation on Sept. 3 presented a preliminary traffic-calming plan for Sabre Drive that would place two sets of speed cushions and other measures and move the project to an online neighborhood ballot if residents support it.

David Greaves, an engineer with the Nashville Department of Transportation, said the department measured the 80th-percentile speed on Sabre Drive at 32 mph and daily traffic volume at 957 vehicles. Greaves said the street widths vary from 22 to 25 feet and the entire short street was selected for the program because it connected Wheeler Avenue to McCall Street and runs near Wright Middle School.

The plan presented includes two evenly spaced sets of speed cushions, with staff noting an extra pavement area at the Hewlett Drive intersection that might accommodate bulb-outs. Greaves described several tools the program uses: speed cushions (7-, 10.5- or 14-foot lengths, with a 6-foot width and a gap designed to reduce emergency-vehicle impact), radar feedback signs, painted lane-narrowing, intersection tightenings ("bulb outs"), chicanes, and small traffic circles.

Greaves cited a March 2023 NDOT study showing before-and-after results for speed cushions: average speed dropped from 31 to 22 mph and the 80th-percentile speed fell from 37 to 25 mph. He said the traffic-calming program focuses on residential streets and targets lower operating speeds to support Nashville's Vision Zero goal of preventing deaths and serious injuries on public streets.

Greaves outlined the project process. Sabre Drive was one of about 600 applications submitted; 25 projects were selected in March 2025. Next steps for Sabre Drive include a site visit, development of construction plans based on resident feedback and field measurements, a second neighborhood meeting to present plans, and an online ballot. Greaves said the project will proceed to construction only if at least 66% of ballot respondents vote yes; if approved, the project would enter the construction queue and materials would be ordered, with an expected installation timeline of about 8 to 10 months after that point.

Greaves encouraged neighbors to provide input through an online survey at engage.nashville.gov/trafficcalming and said staff will present balloting information at the second neighborhood meeting. He also directed residents with non-transportation issues to HUB Nashville (311 or hub.nashville.gov).

No formal decisions or votes were taken at the Sept. 3 neighborhood meeting; the presentation was informational and solicited resident feedback. Staff said they would return with refined plans and balloting details for resident approval.