February 26, 2019 (Nashville). Why do only certain Nashvillians get access to quality, safe public transit? Questions like this were why over 100 people crowded into the WeGo Community Meeting Room on Monday for a Transit Equity Luncheon and panel discussion. Representatives from Music City Riders United, ATU Local 1235, the Nashville NAACP, Public Works, and WeGo shared their perspectives on transit and fielded questions from the audience. Mayor David Briley’s office was invited, but chose not to address equity.

“As Nashville grows, problems grow also. As of right now pedestrians do not feel safe. Right now, we have 30 pedestrians hit by vehicles each month,” said Derrick Jackson, a leader of Music City Riders United. 

Transit inequity along racial and economic lines dominated the discussion, and many had concerns about how funding was distributed and which communities receive priority. Sheryl  Allen Huff from the Nashville NAACP asked, “What makes [areas like the Gulch] more prioritized to you guys than North Nashville, South Nashville, and Herman Street? All of the sidewalks and bus stops and shelters and everything is going into an area where there’s people coming into Nashville, so we have to make that look good. But what about the people that’s already here?”

Other questions from the audience included concerns about ADA non-compliant bus stops, particularly those in ditches in working-class, predominantly black and brown communities. Many also urged WeGo to expand service hours and weekend service, and Mayor Briley and Metro Council to support WeGo’s full funding request for the fiscal 2020 budget, which would allow for modest transit expansion. 

At-large Metro Council member Sharon Hurt and those representing Districts 7, 19, 31, and 34 attended, as well as candidates gearing up for a 2019 run. 

Mayor Briley’s office chooses to avoid Transit Equity issues

Notably absent was Mayor David Briley, despite multiple attempts to welcome him or a representative from his office. This didn’t stop audience members from directing questions at his empty chair, however. 

ATU Local 1235 President Patrick Green asked, “Mayor Briley, will you recognize that the people who ride this transit system are of the greatest need? Will you commit to not cutting WeGo’s budget this year? Will you commit to not forcing us to outsource our work, because we don’t have the funding to pay the employees we already have working within the system? Will you commit to listening to what the people of this city have to say about public transit?”

Some audience members didn’t respond well to the Mayor’s absence, and one person from the back of the room added, “We need a mayor who’s going to be here to listen to our needs.” 

WeGo CEO Steve Bland and Nashville Public Works Assistant Director Jeff Hammond frequently pointed to lack of funding as an explanation for service they admitted was inadequate in many ways. 

Councilwoman Henderson (D 34) spoke to this issue, and urged fellow Councilmembers and voters to look at the way Nashville utilizes the Capital Improvements Budget proposed by the Finance Department and Planning Commission and passed by the Mayor and Metro Council. “Where we’re not paying attention is the slush buckets of funding that we have that go to private development,” said Henderson. She noted that the nearly $15 million in subsidies offered to the Nashville Yards developers–the site of the new Amazon project–was how much San Antonio, Texas spent to update and qualitatively improve 1,000 bus stops and shelters (Nashville has around 1,200 stops). The issue is not funding, but rather Metro’s priorities, she said. 

Derrick Jackson reiterated the point of priorities, and a lack of racial and economic equity in Public Works’ pedestrian safety program. “As Nashville grows, problems grow also. As of right now, pedestrians do not feel safe. Right now, we have 30 pedestrians hit by vehicles each month. If you calculate that up, by the end of the year, that’s 360 pedestrians hit. That’s unacceptable, because out of those 360, 24 deaths. That’s okay with some, but that’s not okay with me.”

Again, much of the community’s concerns boil down to a question of priorities, and working-class, predominantly black and brown communities have been historically de-prioritized. 

A small sign reading “BUS STOP,” nailed to a telephone pole in a ditch, almost in somebody’s yard. This is what many bus riders in working-class, predominantly black and immigrant communities see while waiting for public transit. Often, those same riders must cross busy lanes of traffic with no crosswalks. Last year alone, hundreds were injured and 23 people were killed trying to cross the street. Usually, they also wait standing, exposed to the rain and cold because there are no benches or shelters. 

Compare this to wealthy or gentrifying, predominantly white neighborhoods, and Nashville’s transit equity problem becomes clear. Areas like 12 South and the Nations receive funding for protected crosswalks. University students and tourists enjoy bus shelters and benches along 21st Avenue. 

It’s time for city decision-makers to answer our tough questions about the state of Nashville’s public transit. 

You can find full video of the event on the MCRU facebook page. You are welcome to use any clips or photos from the video.