Council commits $25 million toward Memorial Boulevard widening, approves series of city contracts and purchases

Murfreesboro City Council on Aug. 21 voted to commit $25 million toward a planned widening of Memorial Boulevard and approved a slate of contracts, purchases and developer agreements covering transportation, parks, public safety and airport site development.

The council approved the Memorial Boulevard funding request after staff described the project as a priority corridor in the city's 2040 plan. Deputy Transportation Director Lee Smith told the council the proposal would expand Memorial Boulevard from Thompson Lane to the Walter Hill Bridge to a five-lane section with curb and gutter, sidewalks and a multi-use path. Smith said the project's estimated total cost is $60,900,000; the city already has $3,900,000 allocated and is asking the council to commit $21,000,000 of future borrowing plus $4,000,000 now (presented as a $25,000,000 commitment), which the staff described as representing 40% of the project cost. The council approved the funding commitment by unanimous roll call.

The staff presentation cited a five-year crash count of 294 collisions on the corridor, including one fatality and one serious-injury crash, and said the improvements would address capacity and pedestrian-safety gaps and improve access to nearby facilities including the Seagull Soccer Complex and future phases of Cherry Lane.

Why it matters: The widening will change a major arterial and is tied to state coordination and funding through TDOT's Statewide Partnership Program; staff said TDOT coordination, permitting, right-of-way work and signal design are required. The commitment positions the city to leverage state funding and proceed with design and right-of-way work, but the full project will require additional funding and external approvals.

Other major items approved

- Medical Center Parkway, phase 2: Council approved using established annual contracts for phase 2 construction, which staff said saved about 27% compared with an engineer's estimate and represented roughly $2.4 million in savings. Funding will come from FY21 and FY22 CIP budgets.

- Hangar site development, Murfreesboro Municipal Airport: The council awarded the notice of award and contract to Hensley Civil LLC, identified as the lowest responsive bidder at $1,123,884 with a 5% owner's contingency (staff reported a total of $1,180,080). Staff said the project will be funded by a transfer from the general fund to the airport fund.

- Old Fort Park ballfield and parking renovations, change order No. 1: Staff reported contingency items used to date total $84,746 and the change order adds six days to the contract completion time; a remaining contingency balance of $60,802 was reported. The change order was approved.

- Police headquarters rear parking improvements: Council approved improvements estimated at $150,000, to be carried out under existing city contracts for asphalt, sealing and striping.

- Street sweeper purchase: The council approved purchasing an Elgin street sweeper with Sampson equipment for $326,276 to be paid from the FY26 stormwater fund.

- Mulching services contract amendment (Terrascape): Staff recommended renewing the contract with no price change at $46 per cubic yard; staff estimated approximately $51,000 per year in mulching costs and recommended approval.

- MOUs for victim services: The council approved memoranda of understanding to fund the Child Advocacy Center ($90,000) and the domestic violence/sexual-assault center ($25,000), with both amounts to come from the Police Department's FY26 operating budget.

- Body armor purchase: The council approved buying 125 sets of body armor and carriers from Gales LLC for $235,024, to be funded from the Police Department's FY26 operating budget.

- Professional services: Council approved moving forward with a full design contract for Southeast Broad Street (Academy Avenue to Tremont Drive) to address lane drops and lane-trap issues; staff identified the need for survey, design, permitting, environmental compliance, TDOT coordination, signal design and right-of-way assistance. The transcript did not specify the contract dollar amount.

- Developer agreements and amendments: The council approved a new developer agreement with Green Trails Inc. to realign Armory Drive (city's portion of work estimated at $415,000 and funded from FY22'FY25 CIP budgets) and approved Amendment No. 1 to the Mason Brooks developer agreement (details presented by staff).

- Planning and land-use: On first reading the council approved Ordinance 25-OZ-25 to rezone a 0.3-acre parcel on January Street from RS-8 to CL, following a Planning Commission recommendation. The property owner was not present; a representative, Wanda Frierson, was available.

- Beer permits and appointments: Council approved two beer permits (one permanent for a new restaurant at 710 Memorial Blvd., Suite 220, and one special-event permit for St. Rose of Lima Church's International Festival on Sept. 14, pending inspections) and approved multiple board and commission appointments including reappointments to the Disciplinary Review Board and several Historic Zoning Commission appointments.

Votes at a glance (approved items)

- Consent agenda (15 items): unanimous approval by roll call. - Ordinance 25-O-27 (water tap and sewer clean-out fee revisions), second and final reading: approved, unanimous. - Ordinance 25-OZ-25 (rezoning along January Street), first reading: approved, unanimous. - Hangar site development contract award to Hensley Civil LLC: approved, unanimous. - Old Fort Park ballfield & parking renovations change order No. 1 (contingency used $84,746; added 6 days; remaining contingency $60,802): approved, unanimous. - Police headquarters rear parking improvements (estimated $150,000): approved, unanimous. - Purchase of Elgin street sweeper (with Sampson equipment) $326,276 from FY26 stormwater fund: approved, unanimous. - Mulching services contract amendment (Terrascape) at $46/cubic yard (~$51,000/yr estimate): approved, unanimous. - MOUs (Child Advocacy Center $90,000; domestic violence/sexual-assault center $25,000) from Police FY26 budget: approved, unanimous. - Purchase of 125 sets of body armor from Gales LLC $235,024: approved, unanimous. - Medical Center Parkway Phase 2 using annual contracts: approved, unanimous. - Professional services contract: Southeast Broad Street design (amount not specified in transcript): approved, unanimous. - Developer agreement, Armory Drive (Green Trails Inc.; city portion est. $415,000): approved, unanimous. - Mason Brooks developer agreement amendment No. 1: approved, unanimous. - TDOT Statewide Partnership Program funding commitment for Memorial Boulevard (city commitment $25,000,000; total project est. $60,900,000): approved, unanimous. - Board and commission appointments (Disciplinary Review Board reappointments; Historic Zoning Commission appointments): approved, unanimous. - Beer permits (710 Memorial Blvd.; St. Rose of Lima special event Sept. 14): approved, unanimous, pending final inspections where noted.

What council discussed but did not decide beyond approvals

Council members and staff repeatedly noted the need for TDOT coordination and right-of-way work on state routes and emphasized that some projects depend on state approval and future borrowing. Staff also flagged that Memorial Boulevard construction and design will involve permitting and environmental work. Council members praised certain projects (for example, park renovations and street cleanliness) and asked for follow-up details on items such as the engineer's estimate for the airport hangar bid and timing for the Old Fort Park completion (staff said the project is anticipated to finish in November).

Ending: Council adjourned after handling routine business and setting a calendar of workshops, including a transit center ribbon-cutting scheduled for Aug. 28 at 3 p.m.; the council noted it will not hold a regular meeting that night but will attend the ribbon-cutting event.