The Tennessean
Andy Humbles

Commuter rail is exclusive to Wilson County in Middle Tennessee, but expanding the train’s frequency and ultimately its geography may be central to addressing the region’s mounting traffic woes.

Wilson County recently held the first of nine meetings planned for counties around Nashville to gain public input as the RTA and MTA are in the process of updating their transit plan known as nMotion.

The Music City Star was the focus of the initial meeting as an asset Wilson County has in place, but the train needs to further evolve to have a significant impact on Middle Tennessee’s growing transportation issues, said Steve Bland, CEO of the Regional Transportation Authority and Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority.

“Certainly, I believe it’s central to improving mobility options in the Lebanon-Nashville corridor — it’s a model for the region of how premium services will attract a broad range of users,” Bland said. “I also believe that, for Wilson County to take full advantage of the Star, communities and residents will need to think about the best ways to adapt other strategies like land use, development, pedestrian access, etc., to meet their overall quality-of-life objectives.”

The Music City Star now runs from Lebanon to Riverfront Station in Nashville. The commuter rail line also has stops in Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet and the Martha station near Highway 109.

The train roughly averages 1,100 riders per day and has shown increases, but it still hasn’t been cost effective enough to increase the frequency of trips and times it runs.

There has been some initial movement by developers to build with commuter rail in mind, which Bland said he believes has to continue.

Hamilton Springs is a mixed-use development in Lebanon that sits along the tracks with 396 apartment units recently finished that will include a neighborhood train station for the Music City Star scheduled to open next year. Hamilton Springs has more residential units and commercial space planned for additional phases.

The RTA and Mt. Juliet officials are reviewing proposals from developers that could result in joint transit projects, RTA and MTA spokeswoman Patricia Harris-Moorehead said. Proposals could include an expanded park-and-ride for the train, though Harris-Moorehead emphasized those talks are “in the very early stages.” Mt. Juliet averages about 170 riders per day.

“The next step is to expand that service at some point to make it more convenient for everybody,” Mt. Juliet Mayor Ed Hagerty said. “We need forward thinking and we’ve got to come up with a financing piece.”

Bland emphasized that expanding the Music City Star could encourage other counties to invest in commuter rail.

“Of course everything comes down to funding,” Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee Executive Director Jo Ann Graves said. “That’s what this whole process is about. I think the RTA will come back and weigh all the data with recommendations, alternatives and some costs. It’s up to the citizens and what we’re willing to pay for.”

The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee is conducting the meetings in collaboration with Cumberland Region Tomorrow.

Upcoming regional meetings discussing transit:

Rutherford County: 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, 3050 Medical Center Parkway, Murfreesboro.

Robertson County: 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 10, Stokes Brown Public Library, 405 White Street, Springfield.

Sumner County: 5-6:30 p.m. Nov. 12, Volunteer State Community College – Mary Cole Nichol Dining Room in the Wood Campus Dining Center, 1480 Gallatin Pike, Gallatin.

Cheatham County: 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 19, Cheatham County Courthouse, General Sessions Court, 100 Public Square, Ashland City.

Montgomery County: 8-9:30 a.m. Dec. 1, Freedom Point at Liberty Park, 1188 Cumberland Drive, Clarksville.

Meetings will also be held in Dickson, Maury and Williamson counties with times and locations to be announced.