Commission approves reconfigured loading zone on Ninth Avenue to support transit and evening rideshare

NASHVILLE — The Traffic and Parking Commission voted to relocate a curb loading zone on Ninth Avenue North between Commerce Street and Church Street so the space can serve daytime freight loading and evening ride‑share pickup.

NDOT presented the change as part of the Connect Downtown multimodal plan, saying the shift supports a new transit corridor and improves pedestrian safety for evening rideshare users. "We moved it over on the Ninth...to give priority for rideshare, which would be the flex space in the evening," NDOT Director Diane Alarcon said.

Brent Schultz, Connect Downtown coordinator, showed maps and pictures of the planned transit lane and said the reconfigured west‑side curbspace will operate as a loading zone from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and as passenger/ride‑share space from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. He said the move also supports deliveries and loading needs for buildings east of Ninth Avenue that currently rely on curb access.

Commissioners discussed resident access and safety. NDOT staff said the Pinnacle Theatre’s service dock is on Tenth Street and that two parking spaces on the east side would remain as two‑hour parking to serve Westview residents and guests. "We did maintain two spaces for them on the East Side," NDOT staff told the commission.

Commissioner questions included how the change would affect residents and whether the reconfiguration required a change in the traffic schedule; NDOT replied the east‑side two‑hour parking had been approved previously and that striping and signage work was funded by NDOT. The commission approved the reconfiguration by voice vote.

NDOT said the change is intended to be part of a broader shift toward flexible curb use in the Connect Downtown pilot, with signage and monitoring to follow.

The commission approved the motion to move the loading zone; a roll‑call vote was not recorded in the transcript.