The Public Health & Safety Committee on Nov. 4 approved RS 2025-1617, a resolution supporting the mayor's office and the Department of Social Services in coordination with the Choose How You Move program to reach SNAP recipients through the Journey Pass transit initiative.

Councilmember Evans moved an amendment and stressed the committee should get a follow-up update at the next meeting (Nov. 18) if the federal/state SNAP disruption continued. Evans also noted an announcement at the state level about a proposed $5 million grant from Governor Lee to support food supply across Tennessee.

Amanda Vandergrift, deputy CEO of WeGo Public Transit, told the committee Journey Pass is "Nashville's largest ever fare-free transit initiative" and said the agency has already issued more than 2,500 quick-ticket cards and logged over 14,000 fare-free rides since the program began. Vandergrift said WeGo will expand enrollment targeted to SNAP recipients beginning the next day at WeGo Central, with hours 7 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m., and asked recipients to bring a form of identification and their SNAP eligibility letter. She said partner organizations would be on-site to assist.

In committee questioning, members asked whether increased ridership from expanded enrollment was planned for; Vandergrift said funding from Choose How You Move includes resources for security and to process SNAP enrollments immediately while the broader Journey Pass rollout continues on a slower schedule.

Evans' amendment and the amended resolution passed the committee by voice vote, 7-0. Evans requested the committee receive an update on operational outcomes and any identified discretionary funds the Metro government could use if a SNAP shutdown continued.

Next steps: The resolution passed at committee; any operational changes or additional funding requirements will surface in subsequent staff reports and board/administration updates.