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Town pauses Nolensville Center turn-lane project amid consultant turnover and TDOT reprioritization
Summary
Town staff recommended pausing active design and public engagement for the Nolensville Center turn-lane project because consultant team turnover and a change in TDOT’s review priorities left the town without state buy-in and with limited funding options.
Town staff recommended an indefinite pause on the Nolensville Center turn-lane study during the March 24 work session, citing consultant personnel turnover, changes in Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) engagement rules, and diminished impact-fee resources.
Staff recounted the project history: consultant selection and preliminary design work began in 2022, survey and concept development occurred in 2023, and work had reached a point where public engagement was planned. Staff said multiple key consultant personnel left the prime firm and that TDOT changed its approach to non-funded projects, reducing the state’s willingness to participate in plan review unless a project is on TDOT’s funded/project list. That change, staff said, reduced the town’s ability to secure early-state buy-in for the corridor improvements.
Staff also said the town has drawn down impact-fee funds to cover right-of-way budgeting for other projects (Sunset and Rocky Fork) and that alternative funding sources will be considered. Commissioners expressed concern about pausing the only planned improvement to Nolensville Road and asked staff to reaffirm next steps: discuss the project with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), re-engage TDOT to identify required steps for reconsideration, and include the center turn lane in a forthcoming capital improvements program (CIP) discussion.
Staff agreed to provide a memo summarizing TDOT and MPO conversations and to place the turn-lane project on the next CIP/prioritization discussion; no final cancellation decision was made, but staff said active work on design and outreach would be suspended until the town determines a route forward.
