A bill that establishes a first-ever taxing ability for regional transportation authorities was signed into law Tuesday. The largest proponent has been Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.
Dean calls the new ability to establish a dedicated funding source for regional transportation a “first step” in coordinating mass transit across county lines.
“Traffic in Rutherford County, traffic in Williamson County, Sumner County are all issues. People want to commute in and out of Nashville in a comfortable way and that’s going to add to everybody’s prosperity.”
Dean says he anticipates working groups will begin charting out regional bus rapid transit lines in the coming months. Then they’ll go to counties with a proposal for funding.
The new state law requires voters approve any tax to pay for transportation. Mayor Dean says regional cooperation is a must to keep pace with cities like Charlotte and Austin, who have begun light rail projects this year.
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