Nolensville commissioners approve TDOT SPP application, commit $10.5M and 10-foot shared-use path for Nolensville Road widening

The Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners on Aug. 25 unanimously approved Resolution 25-078 to submit a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Statewide Partnership Program 2025 application for a Nolensville Road widening project, and amended the application to request a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and to commit $10,500,000 as the town's local construction-phase contribution.

The action sends the town's application and local commitments to TDOT and directs staff to reflect the chosen cross section and funding language in the submittal. Commissioners voted 5-0 on both amendments and on adoption of the resolution as amended.

Why it matters: The application aims to place the Nolensville Road project on TDOT's multi-year list for state-funded work; commissioners said a clear local contribution and a defined cross section would strengthen the town's case for selection. The corridor has been a recurring local priority because of congestion and safety concerns, commissioners said.

Town staff member Chuck told the board the draft resolution identifies two cross-section options and a proposed use of available local contract funds. "We would basically use the unexpended contract value, which amounts to just over $500,000," Chuck said, referring to applying that amount toward NEPA and preliminary engineering work to be performed by TDOT.

Commissioner Tyler Carpenter, who recommended a larger long-term contribution during the discussion, said he had analyzed multiple scenarios and proposed a $14,000,000 contribution as a starting point. "My recommendation is that we commit to $14,000,000," Carpenter said, while acknowledging alternative scenarios and funding approaches. Several commissioners said that size of a contribution would be difficult to achieve and that $10,000,000 was more practical for the town.

After debate over the scale and timing of a local contribution, a motion to amend Section 3 of the draft resolution to state a $10,500,000 contribution to be disbursed to TDOT during construction passed unanimously. The board also amended the application to specify a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side of Nolensville Road; that amendment likewise passed 5-0.

Financial and scope details discussed during the meeting included staff's preliminary cost estimates: roughly $4,000,000 for preliminary engineering, $17.3 million for right-of-way, and about $68.5 million for construction in one cost scenario, producing a roughly $90 million total in that breakdown; alternate estimates shown to the board placed the project total in a $100 million-plus range depending on the cross-section and year-of-construction assumptions. Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted the estimates depend on the cross-section chosen (sidewalks both sides vs. a shared-use path) and on future cost escalations.

The board heard that the town has already invested about $2,000,000 in corridor-related work and that the town could identify that prior investment as part of its local commitment in the TDOT submittal. Staff also explained that the town does not currently have authority to use impact fees for this project and that, absent other sources, a local contribution would likely come from property tax revenue or borrowing. Several commissioners warned that any long-term funding plan would bind future boards unless extraordinary circumstances intervened.

Commissioners discussed schedule expectations. Several members said being accepted into TDOT's program does not guarantee construction within a short time frame; staff and commissioners noted realistic timelines could be 10 to 20 years from application to construction depending on TDOT's prioritization and the Transportation Modernization Act work plan.

The resolution as amended (Resolution 25-078) was adopted unanimously. The board then adjourned the special meeting by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: amendment to add 10-foot shared-use path on west side ' approved 5-0; amendment to commit $10,500,000 to TDOT for construction-phase disbursement ' approved 5-0; adoption of Resolution 25-078 as amended ' approved 5-0.

The board directed staff to complete the application reflecting the selected cross section, the $500,000 use of unexpended contract funds for NEPA/PE, and the $10,500,000 construction-phase commitment for inclusion in the TDOT SPP submittal.