Riders press WeGo for more passes, shelter access and safety after missed buses and security incidents

Public commenters at the Nashville MTA board meeting urged WeGo staff to address multiple operational concerns — from an insufficient supply of connector cards for people experiencing homelessness to missed buses that left riders paying for taxis — and to strengthen safety measures for riders and operators. Peter O'Connor, a member of the public, told the board he waited more than an hour for the No. 6 bus at Fourth Avenue South and the stop near the Hilton Hotel on Saturday, July 19, and said several other routes passed without the No. 6 arriving. “I was there from about 5 after 11 to about 12:35 waiting for the number 6,” O'Connor said. He said he spent $45 on a cab to get home and asked to speak with staff about reimbursement. Cade Wooten of Stand Up Nashville said caseworkers who distribute WeGo connector cards to people experiencing homelessness “haven't had access to connector cards for a few months” and asked the agency to issue more cards and to reconsider leaving requests for free rides to driver discretion. “Please consider free system wide rides on hot days or reexamine the driver discretion policy,” Wooten said, noting the city lacked cooling shelters and the downtown library had been closed. Darius Knight described a personal safety concern and ongoing incidents involving one person who he said had assaulted him months earlier and who had been released from custody sooner than expected. Knight said the man continues to use WeGo services despite reports and warnings, and he urged the board to ensure security staffing is adequate after operators have reported threats and a recent incident in which a man shot himself on a vehicle. Knight warned that operators were quitting because they feared for their safety. Santana Levin, a rider who works evenings in the area around the mall, asked the board to extend Route 34 by one stop later in the evening — from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. — to serve late workers and hotel guests who otherwise pay $25–$45 for rideshares. Levin also echoed calls about connector passes and suggested making the system free to prepare for future carbon credit programs. Board staff fielded the comments during the public comment period; no formal action was taken at the meeting. Chair Gail Williams closed the public comment period after hearing the speakers and asked staff to note the requests. The public comments combined immediate service problems (missed runs and shelter availability), fare and access issues affecting people experiencing homelessness, and security concerns cited by operators and riders. Speakers requested concrete responses: reimbursement for a missed run (O'Connor), increased distribution of connector cards (Wooten and Levin), a policy change or systemwide free rides on extreme‑heat days (Wooten), an extension of Route 34 evening service (Levin), and enhanced security or staffing changes to protect operators and passengers (Knight). The meeting record shows these were public comments; no board motions, votes or staff directives were recorded during the session.