The Nashville Department of Transportation presented a preliminary traffic‑calming plan for Westborough Drive and said it will move the design to an online neighborhood ballot after a public meeting where residents described repeated crashes and near misses.

NDOT traffic calming staff member Amy Birch outlined why Westborough qualified for the program and described a concept that includes a series of speed cushions, radar speed feedback signs and other non‑vertical measures. "I'm Amy Birch. And so we're here to talk about the Westborough Drive, traffic calming project," Birch said during the meeting.

The plan matters to neighbors because NDOT data collected for the application showed elevated speeds and volumes on the one‑mile corridor between Charlotte Avenue and Robertson Avenue. Birch said the measured 85th‑percentile speed was 33 miles per hour on a street posted at 30 mph, and the two‑way daily volume was about 3,500 vehicles. The street is roughly 22 feet wide and is classified as a collector avenue, NDOT said.

Nut graf: Residents described multiple crashes and close calls and urged measures that physically slow drivers. NDOT said the project will proceed to detailed design and an online ballot; if at least 66% of ballots returned vote in favor, NDOT will schedule installation of vertical measures, typically within 8 to 10 months after the ballot closes.

NDOT explained how streets are prioritized and what tools the traffic‑calming program uses. The agency said speeds account for 45% of the program score, volumes 25%, non‑motorized accommodations 15%, crash history over 10 years 10% and trip destinations the remainder. Because Westborough ranked high in that scoring, it was selected for design in this round.

On the proposed concept, Birch said NDOT intends to place a series of speed cushions spaced roughly 300–600 feet apart (the preliminary plan shows about six sets of cushions spaced near 500 feet where feasible), plus radar feedback signs in curved or constrained segments where cushions cannot be installed. Birch said the program avoids placing cushions within about 10 feet of driveways and aims for a 15‑foot clearance from driveways where possible.

Residents described several crashes and safety concerns. "I in my years of living here have already had 4 accidents in my yard directly across from my yard, where multiple mailboxes were taken out," said Molly Wright, a Westborough Drive resident, who added she walks with a young child and a dog and worries about people speeding past. Alex Lacava, another resident, said a vehicle breached a guardrail and later a separate crash in the middle of the night damaged both of his parked cars: "...a driver...drove through our yard, and hit both of our vehicles, totaled both of them," he said.

Neighbors raised design concerns about placement of cushions near driveways and about larger vehicles and trailers that sometimes straddle cushions. A resident who identified themselves as Jenny asked whether cushion placement could accommodate trailers used to back into driveways; Birch said NDOT tries for 15 feet from driveways and will review driveway spacing during detailed fieldwork.

Residents also asked about other tools. Birch said permanent stop signs and sidewalks are not part of the traffic‑calming toolbox: stop‑sign changes follow a separate traffic‑engineering review and sidewalks are handled by a different program. Birch said NDOT will consider additional paint, posts, or other treatments where feasible but emphasized that the ballot process covers vertical measures (the physical devices such as cushions or tables); non‑vertical measures are not typically balloted in the same way.

On next steps, Birch said NDOT will complete a detailed design that shows exact device locations and measurements, post the plans online before balloting, and then mail a postcard with a unique ballot ID to eligible properties (residential properties, churches and schools adjacent to the right of way). Balloting is online, remains open for six weeks, and requires two‑thirds (66%) of votes cast in favor for vertical measures to proceed; NDOT said the threshold is 66% of ballots returned, not 66% of all eligible voters. Birch said if the ballot fails, NDOT will retool the plan (likely with fewer vertical devices and more radar signs or other non‑vertical measures) rather than abandoning the project entirely.

The meeting closed with general neighborhood support to proceed to the ballot and with NDOT staff noting they would: refine cushion placement (including moving one cushion closer to Robertson Avenue if driveway spacing allows), consider adding flexible delineator posts to discourage heavy vehicles from straddling cushions, investigate vegetation/visibility near the church, and coordinate plan posting with the council member and neighborhood channels so residents can review the final design before voting. "I think it sounds like we wanna move forward with the ballot," Birch said near the meeting's conclusion.

Ending: NDOT said the detailed plan will be posted to trafficcalming.nashville.gov and the Engaged Nashville project page, postcards with ballot access will be mailed to eligible property owners, and installation — if approved by the ballot — typically follows in several months. Residents were urged to contact NDOT if they do not receive a ballot postcard before voting closes.