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GNRC tells Brentwood to press for local projects as I‑65 choice‑lanes study nears September wrap‑up
Summary
GNRC representatives explained how the MPO's RTP and TIP unlock federal funding, described a projected $31 billion regional revenue baseline, and urged Brentwood to engage now on the I‑65 PEL choice‑lanes study so local interchange priorities (McEwen, Moores Lane, Old Hickory) are not precluded by corridor implementation choices.
Representatives from the Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) briefed Brentwood commissioners on how regional planning documents — the long‑range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the four‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) — shape which projects access federal funds and how municipalities can influence project selection.
"When we did it in 2021 out to 2045, we estimated $10,500,000,000 in regional revenue during that time," Daniel McDonald, GNRC transportation and infrastructure director, said. "With the new one, we're projecting 31,000,000,000." He used the figures to emphasize the scale of funding scenarios guiding regional priorities and scoring metrics GNRC applies (safety, congestion reduction, multimodal benefits).
Connor Carroll, GNRC’s TIP coordinator, explained the TIP is the federally required, four‑year programming document that must be consistent with the RTP and is the instrument that allows local agencies to obligate federal funds. "The TIP ... is a 4 year span of ... transportation improvement program projects," he said, and described the amendment process: local staff request changes, GNRC drafts an amendment for the Transportation Policy Board, TDOT signs off in the state STIP, and FHWA finalizes the obligation.
GNRC staff emphasized urgency around the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study for I‑65 choice lanes, which GNRC said is scheduled to wrap up in September and could be used to move the corridor toward a public‑private partnership (P3) procurement for large‑scale implementation. GNRC urged Brentwood to ensure locally important interchanges — Moores Lane, McEwen and Old Hickory — are included in study recommendations or are not precluded by chosen corridor alternatives.
Commissioners asked whether projects not included in the PEL would be permanently precluded; GNRC replied that inclusion in the PEL helps prioritize projects for implementation and that local engagement now strengthens the case for specific interchanges and local mitigation measures. GNRC also offered staff support to help Brentwood prepare materials and submit comments to TDOT and the Transportation Policy Board.
Next steps: GNRC offered to provide detailed data, help with TIP amendments, and coordinate participation in upcoming municipal work groups and county meetings; commissioners were urged to act quickly to register local priorities before the PEL study concludes.
