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Community groups urge East Bank Authority to reject 6‑lane boulevard concept
Summary
Public commenters at the East Bank Development Authority meeting urged a 4‑lane, transit‑and‑pedestrian‑focused East Bank Boulevard, citing safety, climate and the Imagine East Bank plan; staff said no final cross‑section has been chosen and public feedback will inform alternatives analysis.
Several local advocacy groups told the East Bank Development Authority on Tuesday that a six‑lane design shown in recent materials would conflict with the Imagine East Bank vision and increase safety and air‑quality risks.
Eric Koch, design director at the Civic Design Center, told the authority, “We are concerned by the East Bank Development Authority's proposed 6 lane design for its main street. We do not agree that the East Bank Boulevard needs to be this many vehicle lanes.” Koch asked AECOM staff and agency partners to meet with the Design Center to refine plans in response to community feedback.
The Cumberland River Compact, represented by Catherine Price of Davidson County, urged a streetscape that supports the city’s “green and complete streets vision” and asked the authority to publish timelines and summaries of community feedback so residents can understand how input will be used. Meredith Montgomery, executive director of WalkBike Nashville, called the boulevard a “legacy project” and warned a six‑lane street “will likely become the next addition to our high injury network because people will be killed and seriously injured.”
Trey Bussey, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, framed the cross‑section choice as a climate and transit issue, saying a four‑lane design with protected bike lanes and center transit lanes better aligns with Nashville’s goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Izzy Witt, with Walk Bike Nashville and Families for Safe Streets Tennessee, described recent cyclist and pedestrian fatalities and asked planners to prioritize safety.
Authority staff acknowledged strong public comment but said no final decision on cross‑section or alignment has been made. Anna Greider, chief operating officer of the East Bank Development Authority, said the project team is compiling about 880 public comments and will publish FAQs and responses. Ben York, CEO of the authority, said the team is working toward data‑driven alternatives and that the final asset owner (the state or transit agency depending on the roadway) would be asked to approve a chosen alignment.
The authority noted that alternatives analysis and NEPA‑style review must be handled carefully to preserve federal funding eligibility. Staff said decisions on a preferred cross‑section and alignment are expected to move forward over the next six months as the environmental review and public feedback are reconciled.
Public‑comment speakers and authority staff asked for continued, transparent public engagement and for future meetings to include deeper technical briefings so the board and the public can evaluate the tradeoffs between vehicle lanes, dedicated transit lanes and protected bike/ped facilities.
