NDOT proposes speed cushions for Oakley Drive after residents report speeding

The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) presented a preliminary plan on Oakley Drive that would add three sets of speed cushions after NDOT data showed an 85th‑percentile speed of 35 mph and about 1,200 vehicles per day on the half‑mile segment between Trousdale and Cochrane.

NDOT consultant Jeff Hammond said the agency ranks candidate streets from a backlog of about 500 applications and typically installs speed cushions on the top projects in each cohort. "Physical solutions usually are taking the form of something raised in the roadway that you either have to drive over or have to drive around," Hammond said, describing speed cushions as the program's "bread and butter."

NDOT staff told the neighborhood the proposed Oakley project would place three grouped speed cushions in flatter sections of the roughly 2,640‑foot segment, with an average spacing of about 660 feet. Hammond said the cushions are typically about 3 inches tall and 6 feet wide. He said NDOT prefers to avoid placing cushions on steep grades or immediately adjacent to driveways; the agency's policy is to keep cushions at least 15 feet from driveways.

Hammond explained the agency uses a weighted scoring system that emphasizes traffic volume and measured speeds (about 70 percent of the score) and adds points for pedestrian risk factors such as lack of sidewalks or proximity to schools and parks (about 30 percent). Oakley scored high enough to be selected in the current cohort.

Residents on the call pressed NDOT about alternatives and impacts. One participant who identified themself as the project applicant said the neighborhood has seen drivers "doing 60 down that road," and noted a lack of sidewalks and narrow pavement. That participant said several households, including new families with small children, supported traffic calming.

Some residents raised concerns common in other neighborhoods: possible vehicle damage, impacts to emergency response, and whether less intrusive measures could be tried first. Hammond said NDOT worked with emergency management and fire officials when adopting the speed cushion design and that cushions include gaps so large emergency vehicles can largely straddle them. He said the agency can consider alternatives, such as radar feedback signs or pavement markings, but because of resource constraints NDOT tries to design the right measure up front and then move to a ballot.

NDOT described the next steps: a period for neighborhood feedback and site measurement, followed by a design posting and an optional second meeting if concerns remain. If the design proceeds to ballot, every property owner abutting the proposed section (including corner lots) will receive a voting card; ballots are open for six weeks and require 66 percent approval of votes cast to proceed. Hammond estimated construction scheduling could take roughly 8–10 weeks after the ballot passes, subject to contractor availability.

Hammond also introduced Engage Nashville (engage.nashville.gov) as the project page where residents can leave comments, place problem points on an interactive map and find project documents. He urged residents to submit feedback and noted NDOT posts past neighborhood vote results on its website.

No formal decision or vote occurred at the meeting; NDOT will proceed to design and ballot only after collecting neighborhood feedback and meeting its internal criteria.