Who needs transit in Nashville?

ThinkTennessee recently released a report detailing the people who need the transit improvements proposed in the Let’s Move Nashville transit plan. These populations include seniors, residents with disabilities, residents without vehicle access, and single parents.

You

Even if you do not fall into one of the categories outlined below, transit benefits you too! The Let’s Move Nashville plan will bring numerous benefits to Nashvillians’ and Middle Tennesseans’ quality of life including:

• Synchronized stoplights, so you aren’t waiting at inefficient intersections
• Expanded bus hours to the places you want to go the most
• Expanded and improved sidewalks and intersections to make walking safer and more comfortable
• Crosstown routes, so you can get to another part of town without having to take transit downtown

Seniors

Seniors account for 11% of the population in Nashville, but only 15% of seniors have access to adequate public transit options. Furthermore, by 2040 the senior population is projected to increase by 122% in the Tennessee Department of Transportation region that includes Nashville and by 800,000 across the state.

Seniors stand to gain improvements in their quality of life that may even be reflected in longevity and health. Studies show that seniors without access to transportation options take 15% fewer trips to the doctor, 59% fewer shopping trips and restaurant visits, and participate in 65% fewer social, family and religious activities.

The Let’s Move Nashville plan specifically aims to help this growing population by offering transit pass discounts to all seniors, so they can take full advantage of increased access to transit options. The sidewalk and intersection improvements that will be funded by the Let’s Move Nashville plan will also aid seniors by making walking safer.

Residents with disabilities

AccessRide, MTA’s paratransit service, is slated to see some major updates with the passage of the Let’s Move Nashville plan on May 1. These improvements include advanced call-in reservations, real-time tracking and same-day scheduling so residents with disabilities can easily access transit options.

75,000 people in Nashville have a disability, and 22% of households are home to a person with a disability. Lack of access to transportation can impair quality of life by making it difficult for residents with disabilities to leave their homes. In fact, more than half of the 3.5 million Americans who never leave their homes have a disability.

The improvements proposed for AccessRide will be in the first phase of the plan, with all improvements scheduled for implementation by spring of 2019. Furthermore, AccessRide is already testing integrations that will allow riders door-to-door taxi services through the program.

Residents without vehicle access

More than 3,100 households in Nashville do not have access to a car. In the urban core, more than one in four residents doesn’t have reliable access to a vehicle. While public transit is available to them today, the limited hours and frequency of service makes getting to one job – or multiple jobs – difficult.

The Let’s Move Nashville plan expands transit access for all Nashville residents, leading to increased employment and education opportunities. Furthermore, any resident at or below the poverty line will receive a transit pass free of charge.

Single parents

Almost 40% of Nashville households with children are single-parent households. Single-parent families are more likely to live below the poverty line. In fact, national statistics show that more than one in three families with children raised by a single mother live in poverty.

Increased access to transit can help even the odds for single-parent families. Children can get to school and afterschool activities and commute times for parents are reduced. Shorter average commute times are associated with an increased chance of families being able to improve their economic circumstances.

If you’d like to read more about how the transit plan will help these populations, you can read the full ThinkTennessee “Who needs transit?” report here. For more information on how to get involved with the transit plan, visit the Transit for Nashville website and see how you can get engaged.