NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - Changes could soon be coming to one of Nashville's most dangerous roads for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Metro leaders are talking about adding dedicated bus and bike lanes to parts of Gallatin Pike and Main Street in East Nashville, and the vision is slowly taking shape.
“This is going to create a fundamentally different experience because now you’re creating that separation between the general traffic and the roadside,” explained Kevin Tilbury during a town hall meeting this week.
Tilbury serves as the transportation planner for Nashville’s Kimley-Horn engineering consultants.
“It’s going to create a fundamentally different roadside experience if you’re walking, but also if you own a business there as well," Tilbury continued. "The other thing that it does, too, is that the bus lanes provide a buffer between the bike lane and traffic, so it’s going to provide a more comfortable cycling experience."
This specific stretch of road has seen 10 deadly crashes since 2014 - one per year - according to Metro. This plan currently has two different concepts: one where the designated bus lanes are in the center lane, and one where they’re on the shoulder. Both concepts prioritize public safety above all else.
“People want more street trees; people want better transit access; people want just a better landscape for the corridor,” said Metro Councilman Sean Parker. “As a cyclist, my approach to Main Street is I cross it when I need to and I don’t ride on it. We’re going to see a massive increase in safety with this project.”
Another perk of this project is how it’ll boost public transit.
“We’ve already got good ridership on this corridor,” said Parker. “We’ve got good frequency, and I think if we make it a safer and appealing corridor, it’s just going to bring more and more people out to utilize (it).”
This plan is still sorting through its recommendation and feedback phase. The next public engagement opportunity will be Thursday, June 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at East Park Regional Community Center.
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The hope is to begin construction next year, starting on Main Street.
“I’m extremely excited. The really big picture, zoom out, what we’re doing here is we’re trying to make the corridor, we’re trying to make Gallatin (Pike) into a place that you come to, not a place that you drive through,” Parker concluded.
