Schools, roads and East Bank infrastructure: Nashville’s new $532 million capital spending plan

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has filed his capital spending plan for next year — a plan that includes mostly long-term infrastructure projects that require significant investment.

The plan’s total cost is $532 million, and marks an increase of $5 million since last year’s plan. It is subject to Metro Council approval and will be up for its first consideration at the council’s Dec. 4 meeting.

“This capital spending plan helps us respond to our growth by allowing departments to nimbly address needs that ensure Metro can continue to deliver great customer service to Nashvillians,” O’Connell said in a statement. “Funding from this capital spending plan helps us do the little things well and keep up with maintenance that may not grab headlines, but by doing the little things well, we can better execute on the big ideas and challenges ahead.”

What are the big-ticket items?

The biggest recipient is Metro Schools at $103 million. That money will go toward a new elementary school in Antioch, early designs for renovations at McGavock High School, computer replacement projects, new turf fields, solar installations, safety upgrades and district-wide maintenance.

Some of the other funding priorities include road and transit infrastructure. There’s nearly $50 million set aside for NDOT road repair (fixing potholes and repaving), along with roughly $8 million for sidewalks, $4 million for signal upgrades, $4 million for greenway upgrades, $3 million for bikeway improvements, and $3 million to replace WeGo buses. These changes sound similar but are separate from the upgrades being made by the Choose How You Move program. That funding comes from a half-cent sales tax increase established during last year’s transit referendum.

There’s also a large chunk — $38 million — set aside for the East Bank development. These dollars will go toward early infrastructure work necessary for the Fallon Company, the East Bank’s developer, to begin construction in 2026.

Ultimately, infrastructure on the East Bank will end up costing the city a lot more than $38 million. Earlier this week, Metro struck a deal to build a new site for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on the East Bank. As a part of that agreement, the city will fork over close to $50 million to make infrastructure adjustments, primarily regarding the pedestrian bridge.

Other investments

The capital spending plan also includes allocations for various projects that include, among others:

• $18 million for a new Emergency Communications Center, which will house the Office of Emergency Management
• $16 million for stormwater management, construction and maintenance
• $4 million for replacements for Woodbine Public Health Department and Metro Animal Care and Control facilities
• $2 million for design efforts to replace of West Park
• $1.6 million for design and early construction on a new Richland Park Library
• $1 million for a new fire station in South Nashville