Why the Nashville transit plan needs a downtown tunnel
The downtown tunnel proposed in the Let’s Move Nashville plan is the target of criticism by some opposition members, but is also the source of a lot of questions. What many people don’t understand is that the tunnel is necessary for the entire regional transportation system to function efficiently.
Transit Linchpin
The downtown tunnel will serve as a linchpin to connect the various light rail and bus lines as they converge in the city center. Rather than eliminating existing downtown road capacity to accommodate light rail and buses, the downtown tunnel will allow trains and buses to move efficiently to, and through, downtown.
The key benefit that transit provides is reliability. Without a downtown tunnel, a rider from Madison or West Nashville, Bordeaux or Antioch would ride reliable transit to downtown, but then be subject to the same traffic – and the same delays and lack of reliable travel times – that regularly impact drivers downtown. A downtown tunnel ensures the ride is easy and reliable for anyone that is moving from one side of the city to the other.
Preserving Tourism
Besides preserving current roadways for cars and buses, the downtown tunnel would also allow Nashville to continue our tradition of street parties and festivals. In fact, one of our biggest tourist draws to the Nashville area is CMA Fest, which brings in roughly $50 million in tourist revenue every year. And in 2017, the Predator’s Stanley Cup run – defined by pictures of fans at the watch parties on Broadway – brought in another estimated $50 million.
Our ability to use downtown Nashville streets as a celebration venue is a great draw for tourists. As our economy continues to grow, our vibrant hospitality industry to benefit from the ability to get local and out-of-town tourists downtown, while still preserving city streets.
Built for Tunneling
While some transit opponents claim Nashville is not a good location for drilling, tunneling experts think differently. Nashville is situated on a bed of limestone, which experts believe is well-suited for tunneling. In fact, transit tunnel experts from WSP told a Nashville audience in November of 2017 that the limestone is not only ideal for the high-tech equipment that excavates these tunnels, but that it would muffle the noise and movement from both the tunneling itself and the operation of trains.
In fact, Nashville is already crisscrossed by underground tunnels built years ago for many purposes.
The downtown tunnel is not only achievable – it is necessary for building a functioning transit system that helps everyone get ahead.