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NDOT describes two‑phase downtown mobility lanes rollout; commissioners question reduced scope from Connect Downtown plan
Summary
NDOT staff presented a two‑phase plan for downtown mobility lanes funded through the CHIME/Choose How You Move program and capital funds, focused first on solid‑lined corridors that connect to existing infrastructure; commissioners raised alarms that the plan shrinks the scale and delays some elements originally in the April 2024 Connect Downtown action plan.
Jordan Maher, a project manager with the Nashville Department of Transportation, updated the commission on downtown mobility lanes funded by the CHIME (Choose How You Move) program and capital spending. Maher said the work is organized in two strategic phases: phase 1 will implement solid‑lined mobility lanes that tie into existing infrastructure and phase 2 will add dashed‑line corridors to connect to future projects. Staff are finalizing traffic studies and developing an engagement plan that may include community meetings, pilot demonstrations and bike rides.
When asked about physical protections, Maher said options such as concrete barriers are being considered but depend on traffic study results, budget and scope. He also said smart signal upgrades under consideration are primarily vehicle‑facing systems but can detect other road users in some deployments.
A commissioner compared the current phasing to the Connect Downtown action plan released in April 2024 and said the present year‑one scope is a substantial reduction from the original plan (phase 1 previously envisioned 11 new mobility lanes with additional lanes in phase 2). The commissioner urged rapid, high‑quality buildouts to avoid pilot fatigue and to realize public support; Maher said budget and scope considerations drove the current phased approach but that additional corridors could be revisited in later years.
Why this matters: Mobility lanes and protected bikeways are a key tool in shifting travel mode share and reducing severe crashes. Commissioners argued that partial or deferred implementation risks undermining public support and the safety benefits of continuous, high‑quality corridors.
Next steps: NDOT will complete traffic studies, refine budget and scope, and share draft engagement materials; commissioners requested clearer justifications for timeline and funding tradeoffs and asked staff to return with performance data and potential pilot timelines.
