Metro Transit Authority CEO Stephen Bland says Nashville "should not build The Amp at this time" and that design work on Mayor Karl Dean's proposed 7.1 mile bus rapid transit line should cease.
Bland made the announcement at a meeting of the MTA's board of directors, where he presented his findings and recommendations after reviewing the findings of the Citizen Advisory Committee formed by Dean last year. He said the project had provoked "an unprecedented level of public engagement, discussion, and debate regarding the future of public transit in Nashville and Middle Tennessee," but the city should not move ahead with it now.
Bland's remarks, released by the MTA Thursday afternoon, also included other recommendations such as allocating $750,000 of the remaining Amp design funds toward the MTA's strategic planning process, and continuing "to advance new products and services that provide improvements in service" for customers.
Dean told the CAC in October that his administration would not seek funding for the project in 2015.
Update 3:10 p.m.: A statement from Dean:
“I am proud that we have laid the groundwork for a future mass transit system in Nashville, and, in doing so, raised the level of discourse around transit. To continue our momentum as a city, we have to offer more efficient and reliable transportation options in this corridor and others around the city to address increasing traffic, and I am glad that work will continue. We’ve never come so far in bringing this level of mass transit to Nashville, and we have to continue the conversation to make it a reality. I encourage all citizens to get involved in the strategic plan on transit for the city and region in the coming months. We can’t do it without involvement and input from community and business members.”
