Council committee approves $59.3 million first allocation for Choose How You Move transit program

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County’s Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved a $59.3 million appropriation on March 17 to begin implementing the Choose How You Move transportation program.

The committee voted 11-0 to appropriate $59,300,000 for operating and capital needs tied to the sales-tax-funded program, the committee chair said. The allocation funds initial operating support, a low-income fare subsidy program and capital projects including bus purchases and signal upgrades.

Why it matters: Choose How You Move is the city’s multi-year transit expansion program funded by a sales tax voters approved in November. The appropriation moves cash collected so far into specific operating and capital accounts and begins delivery of projects promised under the program.

Administration official Michael Briggs summarized the allocation for the committee, saying the package covers operating needs and early capital investments. “That amount is 59,300,000.0,” Briggs said. He told the committee the appropriation follows the council’s budget approval and the transit referendum, and that the tax collections began February 1.

The appropriation’s budgeted split is $43.135 million for operating purposes and $16.165 million for capital projects, according to Briggs.

Capital projects listed in the appropriation include the purchase of 12 new buses, a…