Commissioners agree to pursue TDOT SPP application for Nolensville Road; ask for clearer funding commitment

The Board of Commissioners signaled consensus on July 28 to proceed with a Tennessee Department of Transportation Strategic Project Prioritization (SPP) application to pursue Nolensville Road widening and inclusion on TDOT's 10-year plan, while asking staff to more clearly quantify previously committed local investments and to draft a resolution describing any proposed local financial commitments.

Why it matters: placement on TDOT's calendar is a prerequisite to long-range state-funded delivery of large road-improvement projects. The project would require years of preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, environmental review and construction and could involve substantial local match or in-kind commitments.

What staff told commissioners Staff reported a proposal from STV consultants to assist with the SPP application and noted that the contract value falls below the board-approval threshold; the town nonetheless sought board direction to proceed with the application. Staff said TDOT has emphasized partnership commitments (in-kind work, engineering, right-of-way and potentially local funds) and prefers single-source delivery commitments rather than piecemeal approaches.

Discussion and fiscal questions Commissioners repeatedly asked what a reasonable local commitment might look like and how the commitment would be documented. Staff and consultants presented prior estimates from earlier Volkert work: phased costs in the $50 million range (2024 dollars) for an initial phase and prorated estimates over a longer horizon that rose to roughly $115 million when escalated. Commissioners discussed illustrative local-match examples (20% of a $50 million estimate would be $10 million). Several commissioners said they were comfortable moving forward with the application but requested a draft resolution clarifying what the town would include as local match or prior investments (for instance, prior planning costs and any right-of-way already committed).

Next steps and deadlines Staff said the application package will include a commitment letter and recommended the board formalize any local contribution with a resolution. STV indicated it would need nearly the full 30 days to complete an application package. Staff proposed providing a draft resolution for the board's August 7 voting meeting for review (not necessarily for vote) and noted a special called meeting could be scheduled before the SPP application deadline if needed.

Ending Commissioners asked staff to quantify prior investments (including the Volkert planning contract and any right-of-way value) and to return with a draft resolution before the August voting meeting; board members emphasized that any formal multi-year financial commitment should be spelled out as a dollar amount rather than only a percentage.