Infrastructure investment needed to keep Nashville region competitive
Having reliable infrastructure, including mass transit, is necessary to keep our region competitive and growing.
One of the Chamber’s main focuses in the early part of 2018 was the transit referendum. Though the referendum ultimately did not pass, our focus on transit has not diminished. Along with regional partners, we continue to look at the issue of transit and its effect on our region’s competitiveness as a place to grow business.
This continued focus is in response to the 77% of respondents to our 2018 Vital Signs poll that said it was important for community leaders to try again on a transit plan for Nashville. Until that time, we will focus on creating positive change for transit and other infrastructure needs.
Tennessee’s infrastructure needs are divided into six different areas:
- Education: 43% of infrastructure needs
- Transportation and utilities: 34% of infrastructure needs
- Health, safety and welfare: 16% of infrastructure needs
- Recreation and culture: 5% of infrastructure needs
- Economic development: 1% of infrastructure needs
- General government: 1% of infrastructure needs
Education and transportation infrastructure are both key areas where our region needs to focus in order to maintain our economic growth. Without investing in education infrastructure, our local workforce will miss out on top quality instruction. To address this issue, our 2018 Education Report Card included concerns about how Metro’s Capital Improvement Budget process determines which MNPS schools receive funds for improvements. The Education report Card Committee and the Chamber believe “there needs to be greater coordination and transparency between MNPS, the Mayor’s Office and the public in this process.”
From 2013 to 2016, Tennessee as a whole made slight improvements to the grading of some aspects of infrastructure like roads, school facilities and wastewater utilities, but transit grading dropped slightly from a D+ to a D according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The total price tag for needed improvements across the Nashville region was $8 billion in June of 2018. Transportation needs account for almost 20% of statewide needs.
Until a new transit plan is proposed, we are supporting the work of other organizations and legislation that will help Middle Tennesseans move more efficiently across the region. These include the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, which works with contributors, community officials and regional leaders to build support for funding regional transit in Middle Tennessee, and Nashville Connector, a new organization devoted to helping employers explore transportation demand management options.
Many of our peer regions had to try more than once to pass mass transit funding. We look forward to engaging with our members and the wider Nashville business community to build transit infrastructure that helps everyone in our region succeed.
To read more about infrastructure needs in our region, and other developments over the last decade, download our 2018 Vital Signs Report.