TLC rejects NDOT-backed amendment to allow some sightseeing and party vehicles downtown during 4–6 p.m.

The Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission on Feb. 26 voted to decline a proposed amendment to rule 805(f) that would have let some entertainment transportation and sightseeing vehicles operate in the downtown core between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. if a licensed traffic engineer’s study showed the vehicle could keep up with the flow of traffic.

The change, advanced by Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) staff as part of the Connect Downtown implementation, would have added preapproval of an engineer and a traffic-study requirement to the rule. After public comment and more than two hours of discussion among commissioners, a motion to decline the amendment carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The 4–6 p.m. period is a recognized afternoon peak when NDOT said slow-moving vehicles have previously caused severe congestion in the downtown core. NDOT officials told the commission the addendum was intended to let vehicles that demonstrably do not impede traffic re-enter the core without undoing Connect Downtown’s congestion-reduction goals.

At the hearing, Sam Reed, representing Old Town Trolley, said the company’s hop-on, hop-off service carries…