Transportation committee accepts Bloomberg sustainability grant; approves art, easement and encroachment measures, defers bridge engineering agreement

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to accept a Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities program grant and approved several consent items while deferring a preliminary engineering agreement with CSX Transportation.

The committee—chaired by Chair Parker—approved a resolution to accept the Bloomberg grant, which the mayor’s office said will place Nashville among 25 U.S. cities participating in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ sustainable cities initiative. Dave Rosenberg, a representative of the mayor’s office, told the committee, “Nashville has been selected as 1 of 25 cities to join the Bloomberg American sustainability sustainable cities initiatives, aiming to reduce emissions, further adaptation to climate change, expand economic opportunity, and improve lives.” Rosenberg said the program includes “a 3 person innovation team for 3 years, as well as technical assistance and other resources to help create solutions using a 14 month design process.”

The committee also discussed funding uncertainty for project implementation. Rosenberg said Bloomberg Philanthropies “has acknowledged that the federal funding landscape significantly changed, since this was first, sent our way, and they're working to identify alternative funding, sources that can be sought as uncertainty reigns.” That funding uncertainty was noted by the committee but did not prevent the unanimous vote to accept the grant.

Votes at a glance

- RS2025-1059 (accept Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities program grant): approved, 8-0. Motion details (mover/second) not specified in the record. Note: the grant carries a three-person innovation team for three years and a 14-month design process; specific budget or matching funds were not specified.

- RS2025-1067 (preliminary engineering agreement between CSX Transportation and the Metropolitan Government for replacement of an existing bridge on Eastland Avenue): 1-meeting deferral approved, 8-0. The planning department reported that the planning commission has 30 days to review mandatory referrals and that a letter approving the mandatory referral had not been received.

- RS2025-10608 (Bloomberg Philanthropies asphalt art project grant application for Jubilee Bridge area revitalization): approved on consent, 8-0. The resolution authorizes a grant application to Bloomberg Philanthropies to address pedestrian safety and improve pedestrian spaces.

- RS2025-1069 (intergovernmental agreement with the State of Tennessee for installation, operation, and maintenance of transportation art on the TDOT retaining wall at 214 Old Hickory Boulevard): approved on consent, 8-0.

- RS2025-107 (authorizing 2317 Twelfth Avenue South, LLC to construct, install, and maintain an aerial encroachment at 2317 Twelfth Avenue South): approved on consent, 8-0.

- RS2025-107107 (authorizing VC Restaurant LLC to construct and install an aerial encroachment at 300 Commerce Street): approved on consent, 8-0.

- BL2025-744 (bill on second reading approving a greenway conservation easement between the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, Inc., for greenway improvements at 3028 Gwenwood Drive): approved on consent, 8-0.

Discussion and context

The committee chair noted the meeting date coincided with the fifth anniversary of the March 3 tornadoes that caused major damage in parts of Nashville, including East Nashville and North Nashville; the chair thanked city departments and neighborhood volunteers for response and recovery efforts. Chair Parker emphasized community-level preparedness: “You don't need a warehouse of supplies, but know who the folks are in your district who, have the chainsaws, have the trash pumps, or when basements flood.”

Committee members used the meeting to set scheduling and next steps. The chair said the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) team will provide a first update to this committee and related committees on March 31, with the first council meeting following on April 1. Council Member Benedict asked about chainsaw training; the chair suggested finding certified instructors but offered to share techniques informally. Council Member Allen raised the solid waste subcommittee scheduling; the chair said staff would coordinate additional 15–30 minute time slots during full committee meetings as needed.

What the committee decided and what remains

- Formal acceptance of the Bloomberg grant clears the committee step but did not specify budget amounts or matching requirements in the committee record; Bloomberg and federal funding sources were discussed as uncertain and “being identified” by Bloomberg Philanthropies according to the mayor’s office representative.

- The CSX preliminary engineering agreement was deferred one meeting because the planning commission’s mandatory referral letter had not been received; the planning department told the committee it needs the commission’s 30-day review.

- Multiple smaller arts, encroachment and easement measures moved forward on the consent agenda without discussion.

The committee did not record mover/second names for the motions in the meeting transcript and did not provide detailed dollar figures or definitive funding sources for the Bloomberg grant in the committee discussion; those details were described as “not specified” in the record or still being worked out by Bloomberg Philanthropies and city staff.

Ending

Committee members said they would follow up with staff on scheduling the TIP update and the solid waste subcommittee and noted continued coordination with planning staff for the deferred CSX item.