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Business Journals
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Executive Insights: Transportation
Quality of life is an important part of what makes Nashville such a special place to live, work and play. Transportation greatly affects that quality of life. Many unique aspects of Nashville such as the historic nature of the city with its inherited infrastructure, rapid population growth and wide variety of stakeholders contribute to transportation challenges. As safety remains a top priority for the city, increased connectivity and decreased traffic congestion are top of mind for many travelers. Nashville Business Journal Market President and Publisher Lori Becker recently hosted a panel discussion with Robbie Hayes, Director of HNTB, and Andy Lucyshyn, Regional Transportation Leader at Gresham Smith, to learn more about the opportunities at hand to shape Nashville's transportation infrastructure for the future. Navigating fast growth Becker: Record growth has been the biggest story of Greater Nashville for many years. The resident population in the Nashville MSA has increased 52% in the past 20 years. Robbie, how does that much population growth challenge our region overall? Hayes: Record growth is certainly going to be a challenge to existing infrastructure that wasn't built to accommodate it. However, that presents a great opportunity to make improvements based on that growth to help shape the future of the region. The increased population also helps support additional revenue. We have more opportunities to be strategic in our investments, whether that's using various methods of funding or delivery. That will allow us to better meet the growth issues that are happening within the city and across the region. Becker: With that level of growth, it's put a lot of pressure and attention on the city's transportation systems in recent years. Robbie, what do you see as Nashville's most unique transportation challenge? Hayes: Urban sprawl is one of the things that happens when a community is rapidly growing and there is not an adequate amount of housing. Our transportation needs to be multimodal to accommodate the community's requirements as development continues to increase, especially in the business and entertainment districts. Reliable connectivity across the city and the region is vital. The 'Choose how you Move' program and some of the creative programs from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), such as their 'choice lanes' and 'P3's (Public Private Partnership)' and 'alternative delivery,' will help us course correct, possibly slow down and get us better aligned as we look at how infrastructure influences urban sprawl. Becker: Andy, what do you see as the most pressing transportation challenge facing Nashville? Lucyshyn: The greatest challenge is being able to accommodate the growth with a large variety of needs across Nashville. Urban sprawl is a challenge, as Robbie mentioned. Being able to provide access to all the residents amid this rapid growth is a challenge. What is different for Nashville than some of our countering cities, however, is the large mix of tourists and residents plus a large, downtown business district. We also have many corporate headquarters located in Nashville. When you intermingle all the events we have, such as large sporting events and entertainment, you have a greater challenge that is unique to this city. There are many competing needs for transportation infrastructure, and it is a challenge to address all of those effectively, especially when you layer in the rapid growth. Having a good funding strategy is essential to making sure the communities are working together, sharing dollars whenever practical and collaborating on projects so that a single need might be met by multiple agencies rather than each of them working individually. Nashville's new roadmap Becker: One of the first priorities for Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell when he took office was to take a transit referendum to voters in his first year. Andy, what do you see as some of the early wins the city can deliver to demonstrate progress and build public trust in Nashville's transit transformation? Lucyshyn: Funding is often the constraint to getting projects moving ahead. With the recent transit referendum, that has been alleviated somewhat. Early wins that show some progress can be achieved without having to do large infrastructure projects right out of the gate while those funds are accumulated. For Nashville, making transit more accessible, reliable and convenient will be the key elements to making sure people consider it as a method of transportation. We also need safe and accessible transit hubs that are dedicated spaces with good lighting to encourage ridership. We also need to keep the community engaged. People need to know that their voices are being heard and that their input is being considered, which is something that has been done very well to this point and needs to continue moving forward. There is also a need for promoting the value of having a public transit system and expanding that awareness. Becker: Robbie, one concern I hear often is the need for a regional approach to transit. What's an immediate idea that could significantly improve transportation throughout Nashville and the surrounding Metro area? Hayes: We have a great opportunity to continue to build off some of the regional service that is already provided by WeGo Transit/Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee with higher frequencies, more routes and more stops. We also need to understand where the gaps are within the other transit systems across the region. We have leaders getting organized around that initiative. Having that understanding is really going to help us identify where enhancements can be made and further develop a regional, connected network. We will have a better understanding of where the gaps exist and how we can help close those gaps. On the development side, there is a great opportunity to connect transit with development in Nashville and the region. That will allow for increased mobility opportunities that will further demonstrate the benefit of regional service, which can in turn encourage more opportunities. Working together is something Nashville does best. Developers, legislators, public agencies and businesses must continue to collaborate and have an open dialogue about infrastructure needs. Shifting behaviors Becker: They say, 'If you build it, they will come.' Is that true of transit? Andy, with the mayor's new plan, how can Nashville use this opportunity to influence how people get to work or attend downtown events? Lucyshyn: It begins with a traditional, comprehensive marketing campaign. It's not necessarily the infrastructure; it is getting the information out to the public to help them understand the value and then working with stakeholders in the area. That is how you influence behavior. There are many different reasons why someone might take transit. Addressing those needs is something Nashville is going to do. I think also working extensively with some of our large-scale events to integrate transit operations with those could be key. If event organizers could work with the transit system to help reduce the number of vehicle trips coming into downtown, that could alleviate some of the traffic congestion. Again, it comes down to communication with the end users. There are barriers to utilizing transit that could be relatively straightforward to overcome through education about things like how to pay, how often the transit stops and where and what riding on transit is like. Becker: Robbie, it sometimes seems what people want most is for other people to use transit. What efforts, if any, can be made to reduce commuting congestion? Hayes: Having a good, multimodal system that offers more opportunities to commute can help provide congestion relief. I don't think anyone is under the impression that all-of-the-sudden we are going to give up our cars. It's not only about shifting behaviors, but also about providing those options where people do not have to rely on one source of transportation all the time. Specifically, we need to look at how bus rapid transit is going to be able to be used. Then, we need to talk about pedestrian and bicycle travel and having safe infrastructure for those users. There are advancements in technology that we are already seeing pay-off in a major way, not only in Nashville, but across the country as well. Intelligent transportation systems allow us to really leverage data to have informed decision making so that we can be better stewards of the dollar and smooth out some of the peak travel times as well. Business, community involvement Becker: Andy, large-scale transit plans often require intense coordination. How can the city effectively align with public agencies, private partners and the business community to ensure long-term success? Lucyshyn: The good news is that long-term success is tied to continuing to do what they have been doing, which is communicating with each other and coordinating on projects. There is an interesting confluence in the way the roadway network of the ring around Nashville complicates things at times. There are major interstates there, but we also have a lot of events that are downtown and a lot of private partners. There is also still plenty of development to be done. The conversation between the transit agencies, the MPO, private developers and major event organizers needs to be ongoing. Becker: Andy, similarly, what role does community engagement play in building a successful transit future for Nashville? How do we make sure the public doesn't feel left behind? Lucyshyn: It's important to remember that the transit system isn't for the government or elected officials; it is intended to benefit the end users, the people who are going to utilize it. Getting their feedback is essential to understanding their needs and what is important to them. The work didn't stop once the referendum was passed. Clear communication should be a priority, and that means reaching out to the different neighborhoods and communities through town halls, workshops and informal gatherings. We can't rely on a single source to communicate with the community. It takes reaching out across multiple channels to capture a good cross-section of the city. Beyond the roads Becker: Robbie, so much of the transportation discussion in Nashville is focused on daily commuters and road infrastructure. What should we focus on as it relates to aviation transportation and infrastructure for Nashville? Hayes: Aviation is such a critical component of a healthy economy including the support of tourism. We must ensure there is a welcoming, efficient and comfortable experience, which I believe our airport does a great job of. That level of experience is not only a standard, but it is now what passengers expect. Being able to continue to maintain that high customer experience is critical. For any of us who frequently use our airport, it is clearly a treasured asset in our community. They do a great job of ensuring good customer experience, even amid the development and construction they have going on. I do think there is an opportunity to focus more on mobility to and from the airport, particularly from major hubs or other assets across the city and region. As we continue to have this tremendous growth trajectory, there is both a challenge and opportunity in getting travelers in and out of the airport in an efficient manner. Lessons learned Becker: Robbie, are there any recent success stories of transportation solutions that have been implemented in other cities experiencing similar issues to Nashville that we could learn from here? Hayes: One is what we call 'choice lanes' here in Nashville that TDOT is looking to implement. They are called 'express lanes' in other geographies. We have seen the benefit of users having the option to bypass congestion. That has shown great benefit to the individuals who opt into those lanes for a fee. For those that choose not to, you also see some relief for the general-purpose lanes. Another option that we have seen success with all over the country, particularly in the Southeast and the Sun Belt where other cities are also experiencing high growth, is the implementation of dedicated bus rapid transit lanes. Traffic signal priority or other technologies allow those systems to be better optimized to navigate high traffic areas with more efficiency. We are also seeing the return of streetcars, light rail and pedestrian bridges. There are so many cool options for success. For a transportation nerd like me, it is fun to visit other places and ride a streetcar or take a pedestrian bridge. There is more than one way to get from point A to point B. We can look at those successes as well as lessons learned as we continue to grow and embark on this major journey with a huge transportation infrastructure push. Becker: Andy, are there lessons from other cities that Nashville could apply to proactively improve safety and reduce traffic fatalities? Lucyshyn: Safety is the No. 1 priority for the city. City leaders have developed a 'Vision Zero' plan to strive for zero fatalities, regardless of people's specific mode of travel throughout the city. Nashville is unique already in terms of its wide variety of uses, but it is a historic city, too. As a result, we have narrow streets and sidewalks and very limited rights-of-way that tend to limit options. When we worked on Town Branch Commons in Lexington, Kentucky, we were able to implement a full-scale, complete-streets concept. The downtown area includes dedicated bike lanes, much wider sidewalks, improved crosswalks and improved lighting. Those aspects really make a huge difference. Relative to vehicle traffic, calming measures such as speed bumps and roundabouts can be implemented. Traffic engineers can pull different things out of the toolbox that could have a positive impact on safety. Transit advantages Becker: Andy, beyond just moving people, how can better transit in Nashville drive economic benefits for businesses? Lucyshyn: What we want for Nashville is for everyone to have the opportunity to take part in the success of the city and see a benefit from economic improvement. We have workers who need to park downtown. Parking is not inexpensive, assuming you can even find it. That can be a barrier to working downtown for many people because the cost of parking would negate what they earn for the day. Transit benefits businesses not only in terms of creating more pedestrian traffic and people patronizing those businesses, but also in supporting the people who work in those businesses. Having a more robust transportation or transit network also provides more access to better-paying jobs. For example, we have Oracle coming downtown, which presents a fantastic opportunity for people to have a pretty life-changing increase in income for themselves and their families. Typically, when you earn more, you spend more, and you pay more in taxes. This creates a nice economic cycle where everyone is participating in the benefit, but then they are also paying to support the system. It is important to not only look at how individual businesses would benefit economically, but also how individual families can see real benefits as well. Becker: Robbie, in what ways do improved transportation options improve communities in Nashville? Hayes: Improved transportation options allow better access and better connection both in the city and to communities across the region. In turn, that will allow greater development potential and opportunities, which will attract and retain business. We have been very fortunate to see a lot of corporate relocations and we don't want to turn our back on the great businesses we already have. Simply put, more reliable transportation will improve quality of life and that will help protect this community and what makes it such a special place to live, work and play. The experts Andy Lucyshun, Regional Transportati on Leader, Gresham Smith. Andy Lucyshyn has 30 years of transportation expertise in traffic operations, traffic engineering, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and project management. As the Mid-South Regional Transportation Leader, he oversees business development, operations, and project delivery across various services, including roadway and bridge design, planning, traffic engineering, ITS, utility design, and construction inspection. He oft en serves as a senior technical advisor, project principal, or project director, working with FHWA, state DOTs, and local governments throughout the U.S. Robbie Hayes, Director, HNTB. Robbie Hayes is a seasoned leader in Tennessee's transportation infrastructure sector, bringing 20 years of experience in planning, engineering, and strategic growth. Robbie's leadership is defined by his ability to connect vision with execution. He has guided the development of long-term strategic plans, built high-performing teams, and cultivated strong relationships with clients, elected officials, and industry partners. His efforts have helped position HNTB as a trusted advisor on some of Tennessee's most impactful transportation initiatives.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Questions pile up about the Gay Street Bridge. Here's how to have a say
It's been a busy week! Sen. Bill Hagerty offered clarity on what the 2026 gubernatorial race may look like (he's running to stay in the Senate) and Knoxville announced cars will no longer be able to use the Gay Street Bridge. Knoxville officials hope to open the bridge to pedestrians between now and early 2026, but that's only a temporary fix. Mayor Indya Kincannon said last week city leaders will look at a long-term solution for the 7,000 vehicles that used the bridge before it closed. But while the city followed through on its promise to release information about the bridge in "early 2025," we don't know about how leaders came to the conclusion the bridge was too expensive to fix. Here are the questions we've heard from neighbors and business leaders: How expensive would it have been to fix the bridge? Will a new bridge ever be built? Who will pay for it and who will initiate that process? How long is the lifespan for the bridge with only pedestrians? What will happen once the existing bridge is closed? Knox News on Feb. 6 requested the results of a bridge evaluation that could provide some answers, but the mayor's office has not provided the document. "We do not have the final Gresham Smith recommendations," city spokesperson Eric Vreeland told Knox News in an email, adding that here will be "many details" in the Knoxville City Council agenda for its March 4 meeting. Local government is where you can make a difference, and The Key is your weekly guide to how to have your say in the decisions that shape your life. Here's what we're watching this week. Thee city council will discuss a $100,500 addition to Knoxville's contract with Gresham Smith to pay engineers to sort through fixes necessary to reopen the bridge for pedestrians. The additional payment is on top of $30,000 that was added to the contract to allow Gresham Smith to hire an advisor from Charles Blalock & Sons, a big projects construction company based in Sevierville. David Brace, Kincannon's chief of staff, told Knox News that hiring a construction specialist to "validate the constructability" of the bridge will ultimately speed up the bridge's repairs. The contract's total is $448,500, according to the Knoxville City Council's agenda. Important date: The council will discuss and vote on the addition 6 p.m. Feb. 18. What you can do: Contact your council member or sign up to speak at council meetings. This larger bridge issue will take years to resolve with lots of opportunities to weigh in. Deadline: If you want to speak in front of the city council, make sure you sign up by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting by emailing wjohnson@ or by calling the office at 865-215-2075. Study up: The city council agenda includes information about the application. Click the "agendas" link on the city council's webpage at Choose the "HTML" option for Feb. 17. You can download the material for this decision, which is "11.e" in the agenda. (If you're a frequent council-goer and you download agendas typically, they revamped the site. No more 500+ page downloads)! The city council created a task force of current and former members to determine "what needs to be modernized" about its meetings, according to council member Tommy Smith, who represents South Knoxville. The group will meet for a second time this week. A couple of issues loomed large last year, including how the city handles state laws that strip it of autonomy and how the council interacts with demonstrators at its meetings. That means there could be some talk about the First Amendment and public comment. An agenda was not available online last last week. Important date: The task force will meet at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the small assembly room of the City-County Building, 400 Main St. What you can do: Contact your council member or sign up to speak at council meetings. Deadline: If you want to speak in front of the city council, make sure you sign up by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting by emailing wjohnson@ or by calling the office at 865-215-2075. The Knox County Finance Committee will meet this week to discuss summary reports about the fiscal year for Knox County Schools, Knox County tax collections and investments and the county overall. They'll also discuss state legislation that could make a difference this year for the county's finances. Important date: The committee will meet at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in the small assembly room of the City-County Building, 400 Main St. What you can do: Sign up to speak! Deadline: If you want to speak in front of the committee, sign up at the commission's website at by emailing commission@ or calling 865-215-2534 by 4 p.m. on Feb. 18. Study up: You can find the county's budget at the county's website, under the "Government" tab. Hover over the tab and click the "departments A-F option" and select finance. Under "Current reports," click the budget option. Here are highlights of this past week's coverage of the aftermath from catastrophic flooding in East Tennessee. Knox News is committed to reporting on the recovery efforts in East Tennessee in the weeks, months and years to come. Trump administration: USDOT will try a new method to expedite I-40 repairs, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says Good news: I-40 to reopen between Tennessee and North Carolina after Helene damage Everything to know: East Tennessee floods: Everything to know, from rescues to recovery to Helene resources Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Questions pile up about Gay Street Bridge. Here's how to have a say
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Knoxville mayor: Gay Street Bridge will not reopen to motor vehicles
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Gay Street Bridge will not be reopening to regular motor vehicle traffic, the mayor of Knoxville and other experts shared Wednesday morning. Mayor Indya Kincannon, along with City Engineers, a representative from Gresham Smith and other leaders, shared that they wanted to give the public an update as soon as they knew what their path forward would be. She said that because of more than 120 years of wear and tear, the Gay Street Bridge will never be able to return to the level of traffic that it was being used for previously. It is expected the bridge will be reopened to pedestrian and bike traffic, and may be open to emergency vehicle use in the future, although more information is needed. South Knoxville business fears for survival amid bridge closure, Sevier Avenue project Deputy Director of Engineering Chris Howley explained that the Gay Street Bridge was designed to last 70 to 80 years. Jason Brady from Gresham Smith said the plan is for the City to work to replace the bridge in the next five to 10 years. The cost to repair the bridge will be $2 million and the city already has contractors lined up as soon as the funds are approved Kincannon said. The repairs will also require permits from the TWRA as some of the repairs will be done from a barge. Kincannon also shared that the City is hopeful that the repairs will completed by the end of the calendar year or early 2026. Knoxville adding traffic delineators to Henley Bridge amid increased usage The Gay Street Bridge was closed in June 2024 after a 'compromised element' was discovered during a routine inspection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In September 2024, the Knoxville City Council passed a budget amendment ordinance aimed at repairing the Gay Street Bridge, allocating $850,000 to hire an engineering firm to provide professional analysis and design services. In January, an additional $30,000 was approved to hire a construction advisor, bringing the total cost of the Gresham Smith contract to $348,000. The latest update on the city's timeline for the repair project said that the repair timeline and cost options were under review. The 1,512-foot-long bridge was built in 1898 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
