MTA board adopts updated Title VI program and adds WeGoLink zones to analyses

The Nashville MTA board voted to adopt the 2025 update to its Title VI program and directed staff to submit the plan to the Federal Transit Administration for compliance review.

Felix summarized the update and said staff expanded the plan to explicitly include WeGoLink zones and described how the agency uses census and onboard survey data to examine racial, ethnic and low‑income impacts when evaluating major service changes. He cited county census figures showing minority population growth from roughly 35% to 46% and onboard survey results indicating an increase in minority riders from about 55% to 64% between the agency's prior surveys, and said the agency translates vital documents into Spanish and pursues outreach in affected corridors.

The draft plan was posted for a 21‑day public review with notices in English and Spanish and two public meetings; staff reported limited written comments but noted substantive conversations during public sessions on outreach and equitable bus distribution. The board adopted the update by voice vote and staff will submit the final program to FTA.

'We always do a fairly good job as staff on the public participation plan and on trying to make sure that we have a bunch of different avenues to be able to reach different populations,' Felix said. He added that the agency conducts origin‑destination surveys and supplemental outreach (including riding routes and talking with riders) to inform Title VI analyses and service planning.

The board’s action makes the updated Title VI program the operative plan for upcoming service and fare decisions that trigger formal Title VI review.