Though the assignment was to take some form of alternative transportation for a full week, I've been riding the Music City Star commuter rail for more than three years. So my experience wasn't particularly novel or confusing, and it didn't present any learning curves that might result in comedy or tragedy: This is just my typical commute.
I live in Hermitage and catch the final inbound train at 7:52 a.m. After settling in with a book and an energy bar for breakfast, I sit back and enjoy the next 20 minutes. When I arrive at Riverfront Station, I skip the numerous connecting buses and take a leisurely one-mile stroll to work. In the afternoon, I leave about a half-hour before the final outbound train is scheduled to leave, take the time to enjoy the city as I walk to the station, and leave town at 5:45 p.m. for another 20 minutes of reading time.
It may not sound exciting — but isn't that the dream? Imagine a hassle-free commute without the stress-hormone overload from a rage-inducing voyage behind the wheel of a large automobile.
I rank the Music City Star pretty high on the eco-friendliness scale, since it's a form of mass transit. And moving things by rail is much more efficient than rubber on the road. But for both of these attributes to fully count, Nashvillians actually have to use it — which we are. The Star still has seats to fill, but I've seen ridership grow since I started riding in September 2007. That day, I posted on the Scene's Pith in the Wind blog: "I didn't exactly have to fight the crowds to get on the train." Even though I don't take the busiest in- or outbound trains — those are typically the middle ones, filled with government employees — I now have to jockey for boarding position to guarantee my preferred seat. (A recent press release noted that if you compare January 2010 and this past January, ridership was up 19 percent.) Final score is an eight, with one point off for room to grow and one point for the fact that the engine is powered by fossil fuel.
Since I live less than two miles from Hermitage Station, the Star is extremely convenient. But if you don't live along the I-40 corridor east of town, or work within range of Riverfront Station or any of the connecting bus lines, it would be an extremely impractical option. Since this is commuter rail, there are only three trains in the morning and three in the afternoon (plus one late-night train on Fridays). I work occasional late nights that would leave me stranded if I took the morning train, and if your work has the possibility of keeping you past 5:30 p.m., the train really isn't an option for you. Speaking of stranded, some people may find it inconvenient not to have their car at work for errands, but it also means you'll never have to be the driver for any group lunches or run anyone to pick up their car. Final score is an eight, with one point off for limited coverage and another for limited midday mobility.
The economics of commuter rail can get pretty complicated when comparing costs to a car commute. The ticket pricing varies depending on the station (the longer your trip, the more your ticket costs) and number of trips (single, 10-trip or monthly pass). Then there's the variable of vehicles and fuel economy. Personally, it costs me about $10 more a week to take the train when compared to just the price of gas. But you also have to figure in vehicle wear-and-tear and insurance, not to mention buying a car in the first place. And while gas prices are in constant flux, the price of taking the Music City Star is much more stable, since they lock in fuel prices at contract rates. Final score is an eight, with one point off since the bus would be cheaper, and another since the vehicle I'm using for comparison isn't very fuel-efficient.
I highly recommend the Music City Star if you live anywhere near a station and work downtown or on one of the connecting bus routes. I don't recommend bringing your kids onto the car located next to the engine. As the many signs say, this is the official Quiet Section — and I've got some reading to do.
