Nashville citizens demand a public transit system that lets them live and work in the city
Whether we are Black, white, or immigrant, most of us want our communities to be inclusive and vibrant. Public transit, like buses, accessible sidewalks, and bike routes, give us clean, safe, and affordable ways for everyone to get around.
For too long, however, conservative billionaires and wealthy corporations have sold us the idea we can’t have the transit we need — all while they profit off of gouging us at the pump and fueling divisions between us.
Stand Up Nashville is excited to see our city pursue dedicated funding for transit because an equitable transportation system can reduce one of working people’s biggest costs and open new opportunities for residents across Davidson County.
Another view: On transit, Nashville Mayor O'Connell addresses 2018 mistakes, but opposition looms
Six recommendations to make a transit system that works for Nashville
We believe the recommendations below can help us squeeze every ounce of public good out of this investment to improve people’s lives:
Transit infrastructure should be leveraged to increase access to quality and affordable child care, housing, health care, and fresh food. Neighborhood transit centers offer the ideal opportunity for equitable and healthy community development that meets residents’ most pressing needs.
Intentional workforce development should be at the center of the plan. Building out the infrastructure should create a new generation of highly skilled construction workers and responsible minority contractors who treat their workers well. Programs like Music City Construction Careers have a proven track record of creating pathways to careers in the union trades for working-class residents from diverse backgrounds.
The expanded system should be operated by public workers with union representation to ensure dignity and sustainable livelihoods.
The new fleet of buses should be electric, zero emission, and union made using bipartisan infrastructure law funding if possible.
Metro should create a high-level position focused on pursuing federal grants and work with community groups to ensure equity and good jobs are foundational priorities for these investments.
A right to stay and thrive for all residents should frame policy and investment decisions. Displacement protections should go with a commitment to bring back displaced residents to the urban core.
More: Nashville Chamber urges businesses to support 'crucial' November transit vote
All Nashvillians should be able to prosper from a better transit system
From Antioch to North Nashville and Hermitage to Bellevue, we know what makes our communities thrive. By raising our voices together, we can design and demand an upgraded public transit system that not only connects and improves our neighborhoods but creates good jobs, delivers better health outcomes, protects the air we breathe, and makes our streets safer, for generations to come.
It’s time to build a Nashville where we have the freedom to get where we need to go. It’s time to build a Nashville where we can prosper together.
Michael Callahan-Kapoor is the deputy director of Stand Up Nashville, a nonprofit that organizes communities to fight poverty with strategic action around public investment and city planning to create thriving neighborhoods and shared prosperity for all residents.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville transit: Improved system should help all citizens thrive
