NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Though only two months in office, Mayor Freddie O'Connell's transition committee put forth the recommendation that he should consider a transit referendum as early as 2024.
"One decision you need to make very early is whether or not we’re going to have a transit referendum to work on a dedicated source of funding," said Dr. Alex Jahangir, a co-chair of O'Connell's transition committee.
Jahangir suggested pairing a new transit referendum with the 2024 presidential election could help turnout.
O'Connell — who campaigned on broadening Nashville's transit options — had three different committees look at areas of improvement for the city. Nashville has been down this road before with referendums, a move to expand to rail failing in 2018. The Amp in 2014 that would have intertwined a bus rapid transit effort from West End to downtown also got killed during Mayor Karl Dean's administration.
"The failure of Nashville’s 2018 transit referendum holds many lessons, including the importance of holding any vote about dedicated, long-term funding for transit during a high-turnout election that maximizes its chance of success," the report stated.
Mayor O'Connell tells NewsChannel 5 that he wants to hire a Transportation Policy Director in the mayor's office first, and then they'll figure out timing.
"We have not hired into that role yet. It’s something we’re working on right now and hope to have an announcement before the end of the year. And the first task for the person we hire there in a leadership role will help us examine that feasibility," said O'Connell.
Even still, O'Connell is already envisioning a potential plan.
"To have an on-the-ground, traditional bus service that serves multiple communities. A small network of community transit centers, like the one we’re about to cut the ribbon on in North Nashville, that means you don’t have to come into town for every route," he said.
Mayor O'Connell said that the plan could include some light rail, like connecting Nashville International Airport to Downtown. But he doesn't think they'll propose a massive rail system, similar to the 2018 transit referendum plan.
"We look to extend as a regional opportunity with something like the Star — maybe a Clarksville alignment there as well. But I would not say that I would intend to put forward a rail-heavy plan," said O'Connell.
That's because they're trying not to repeat mistakes from the 2018 debacle when a referendum failed overwhelmingly.
"My personal opinion — last time around — we probably overinvested in light rail," he said.
O'Connell also hopes to expand city sidewalks, which several Nashville mayors have pledged to do before him.
What the last plan was in 2018?
The $5.4 billion plan would have included five light rail lines, an overhaul of the bus system, 19 neighborhood transit centers, sidewalks, bikes lanes and synchronized lights.
To achieve that plan, it would have meant four different tax increases: sales tax, business tax, rental car tax, and hotel tax.
Officials at the time said it would take another six to eight years to devise another mass transit plan that would likely cost taxpayers more than the original plan.
No Tax 4 Tracks also pushed against the plan, with Nashville businessman and car dealership owner Lee Beaman heading the effort.
What was the Amp?
The bus rapid transit plan was going to cost $174 million in 2014, when Dean's administration ultimately said the project was dead.
It did not face a public referendum, but those opposing it with Stop Amp led a vivid effort to shelve the project. Beaman was also crucial at that time in pushing against that plan.
The bus plan was originally pitched in 2012 and was meant to address the rising number of new residents in the area. Opposition cried foul that it wasn't helping other areas of the city, like East or North Nashville.
