In Middle Tennessee, there’s only one commuter train — the WeGo Star — and only about 10,000 people ride it every month. So, the Regional Transportation Authority has unveiled a draft of ways to improve the Star’s service.
NashVillager Podcast: March 25, 2024
With Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s transit referendum on the way, we take a look at the city’s fraught history with transit plans. Plus the morning newscast and taking stock of how school security has changed since the Covenant School shooting.
The future of passenger rail in Middle Tennessee
Nashville’s growth means that passenger vehicle commute times keep getting longer. And it’s projected that in 20 years, urban growth might extend a trip to Chattanooga or Memphis by an hour. One potential solution to stem this congestion is creating more Amtrak passenger lines between Tennessee cities, as well as major regional hubs like Atlanta, […]
Can Middle Tennessee’s only commuter train be more rider-friendly? Riders are weighing in on the WeGo Star.
Each day, about 400 people ride the WeGo Star commuter train — and that’s 40% of pre-pandemic numbers.
Curious Nashville: Freight trains keep blocking city streets and frustrating commuters. Can anything be done?
It can be a daily frustration in some Nashville neighborhoods: a freight train grinds to a halt and blocks the road. The frustration prompted a question to our Curious Nashville project.
Famed Nashville Steam Engine To Be Restored — But It Won’t Be Easy
Listen A Nashville preservation group has the go-ahead to relocate and restore a famed locomotive that has long idled in Centennial Park. The 1940s steam engine has drawn visitors and been featured on country music album covers, but the intent now is to get it chugging again for tourism trips between Nashville and Watertown.
Activists Question Whether Gallatin Road Rail Project Will Really Benefit East Nashville
Listen A group of community organizers is questioning whether Mayor Megan Barry’s proposed public transit plan could actually hurt communities more than it helps. If a tax referendum is approved next year, the project would kick off with a light rail line on Gallatin Pike in East Nashville. But critics held a small […]
Middle Tennessee’s Best Hope For New Commuter Rail Is Taking Shape; Here’s What It Looks Like
Details emerged Tuesday about what could be Middle Tennessee’s best chance to add a new commuter rail line. For an estimated $525 million dollars, it…