Imagine East Bank rendering
Metro is beginning the search for a contractor to lead the development of a key pillar of the future East Bank redevelopment, the north-south boulevard envisioned as a new connection between different parts of the city and a hub of activity and mobility within the district itself.
Metro's procurement department opened a request for quotations earlier this week, with a deadline of Jan. 26 for contractors to submit bids.
The city is looking for an engineering firm or project team to provide surveying and engineering services for the proposed boulevard, the planning for which must precede much of the private- and public-sector development expected to come to the area. The selected firm will be responsible for working on plans for roadway and bridge design, transit amenities, complete street design, stormwater, pedestrian infrastructure and signals, among other elements of the proposed thoroughfare.
Imagine East Bank, the planning document for the future neighborhood, describes the boulevard as extending north-south along the entire length of the East Bank and into River North. The boulevard would be "the backbone of the Imagine East Bank vision, [because] it sets the foundation for the East Bank's future urban street grid and multimodal transportation networks."
Imagine East Bank rendering
The boulevard is expected to have two vehicular travel lanes and dedicated bus lanes, possibly the first such in the city. The dedicated lanes "will allow transit vehicles to move through the East Bank efficiently, and without conflict," the plan notes, and drop passengers at "iconic stations."
"The East Bank Boulevard’s streetscape design will be grand," the plan continues. "Active ground floor uses will reinforce the pedestrian quality of the boulevard through a lively street wall. The boulevard will provide sidewalks made with high-quality materials and unique paving patterns; spaces for outdoor dining and gathering; clear and prominent wayfinding; flexible parking zones; and street trees (within the sidewalk and in the median) and other landscaping that contribute to shading and stormwater management. In some areas, publicly accessible open spaces will front the boulevard and extend the pedestrian realm."
Though some of the plans for the boulevard are up for debate, the Imagine East Bank document specifies that any alternative would have to include dedicated transit lanes, sidewalks and landscape. One alternative could include dedicated bike lanes.
Vice Mayor Angie Henderson has reconstituted the Metro Council's Ad Hoc East Bank Committee, which is meeting now under the leadership of District 2’s Kyonztè Toombs and District 5’s Sean Parker. The committee's next scheduled meeting is Jan. 17.
Metro tapped The Fallon Company to serve as master developer of the East Bank. Engineering firm HDR was selected as the program manager that will help coordinate public and private development along the entire East Bank. Metro has selected engineering firm Kimley-Horn to lead utility and infrastructure design for the East Bank.
New Mayor Freddie O'Connell, who was sworn in after the selection of Fallon and after opposing a deal for a new Titans stadium on the East Bank, has tasked former Councilmember Bob Mendes — who has the new title of chief development officer — with overseeing the city's role in the process. A formal agreement with Fallon should come before the Metro Council in the coming months.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
