| Founded | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 400 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN |
| Service area | Nashville-Davidson County |
| Service type | bus service, bus rapid transit, paratransit, park and ride |
| Routes | 43 |
| Hubs | Music City Central |
| Stations | 6 Music City Star stations |
| Fleet | 137 (bus), 40 (AccessRide) |
| Web site | nashvillemta.org |
The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is a public transportation agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Consisting of city buses and paratransit, the system serves Nashville and Davidson County. All bus routes serve the downtown transit station, Music City Central. This makes MTA the largest transit agency where all bus routes terminate in a Central Business District with no crosstown service, with the exception of the Edmondson Pike Connector (route 72) and Madison Connector (route 76).[1]
The MTA was the only transit agency in the country to implement payment with credit card at the fare box. That proof of payment approach has since been discontinued March 2009.[2]
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The first public transportation in Nashville began in 1860 when the McGavock and Mt. Vernon Horse Railroad Company and the South Nashville Street Railroad Company were joined together to create a public transportation system using steam and mules to power rail cars. The first electric streetcar in Nashville came in 1889. Over the years, several different companies offered transit in Nashville. The first buses came in 1926, as a complement to the preceding rail lines. In 1930, Tennessee Electric Power Company took over the transit system and phased out streetcars 10 years later. In 1953, the company was reorganized and changed its name to Nashville Transit Company. The next 20 years saw the decline of public transportation in Nashville and the rise of the automobile. This led to higher fares and service cutbacks for the transit system. In order to keep public transportation in the city viable, Metro-Nashville government purchased the Nashville Transit Company and created the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1973.[3]
Due to the flood in May, 2010, Nashville MTA suffered losses to their fleet and their maintenance/administration offices. The total losses amounted to 42 buses, nearly 50 paratransit vans, various other support vehicles and severe damage caused to both the maintenance/administration offices and to the Riverfront Music City Star train station. Service was interrupted for 4 days, with limited service being restored afterwards for the next four weeks. In early June, 2010, Nashville MTA obtained loaner buses and other vehicles from surrounding transit agencies, including Memphis, Cincinnati, Clarksville and others. Regular transit service was restored shortly thereafter.
The MTA bus system serves all of Nashville and Davidson County. While no bus service is directly provided to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated communities of Forest Hills or Lakewood, some service is provided, though, to Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Goodlettsville and Oak Hill.[4] Outside of Davidson County, MTA collaborates with the Regional Transportation Authority to provide express service to Brentwood, Franklin, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lavergne, Smyrna, Murfreesboro and Spring Hill. Beginning March 1, 2011, MTA/RTA began service to Joelton and Springfield via the 89X Springfield/Joelton Express. MTA also provides connecting bus service with the Music City Star at Riverfront Station in downtown Nashville (linked by downtown shuttles), and Donelson and Hermitage stations within Nashville along the system's East Corridor Line.
MTA offers a paratransit service operating specialized van services for people with disabilities unable to use regular bus routes. AccessRide provides door-to-door paratransit service in Davidson County within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from a regular bus route. MTA’S AccessRide also provides elderly people with a way to get to doctors appointments and pick up medication.
MTA also has a Park-n-Ride program where riders can park their cars in a designated parking lot and ride the bus into town. Most riders make use of the park-n-ride program to get to places like LP Field and local restaurants
MTA operates four varieties of buses in their normal operations.
Gillig Low-Floor 40 ft (12 m). Neoplan Transliner Articulated Bus*
Nova Rapid Transit Series #2*
North American Bus Industries 60 ft (18 m). Hybrid Articulated Bus*
After years of study, MTA secured taxpayer funding to purchase the vehicles necessary for a bus rapid transit (BRT) line. On September 27, 2009, MTA implemented the first phase of its new BRT service on the Gallatin Road corridor, designated as route 56 which supplements the multiple stop service of route 26. Covering 12 miles (19 km), this BRT service operates from Music City Central to the edge of Sumner County just north of RiverGate Mall. Passengers experience fewer stops and more frequent buses as they travel along one of Nashville's busiest corridors on all new 60-foot (18 m), articulated, fuel-efficient hybrid buses. BRT buses stop at designated stops that are marked with a green "BRT stop" sign.
During the second phase of BRT in spring 2010, more customer amenities were added. Gallatin Road intersections have Green Light Extenders that allow the traffic signals to stay green longer as a bus approaches. In addition, each station stop features new enhanced passenger waiting areas.
Once this new BRT service is fully implemented, a second high use corridor will be identified for implementation and funding.
In May 2007, MTA began construction of Music City Central, a downtown transfer station that replaced the outdoor Downtown Transit Mall on Deaderick Street. The facility opened to the public on Oct. 26, 2008. Music City Central is a two-story facility with climate-controlled waiting areas. Riders can buy tickets, check bus schedules, and shop at a convenience store or Dunkin' Donuts located at the facility. A multi-story public parking garage is located above the transfer portion of the facility.
The cost of tickets mainly depends on the riders age and the number of days or rides the ticket permits. An adult ticket allowing 31 days of unlimited rides (31-day pass) will typically cost less than that of a youth. Some riders receive special discounts because of mental or physical disability.
The Music City Circuit is a free circulator bus service in downtown Nashville, began March 29, 2010. It operates three lines- the Blue Circuit, serving Bicentennial Mall, the Green Circuit, serving the Gulch, and the Purple Circuit, serving Richard H. Fulton Complex. The Blue Circuit operates 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Likewise, the Green Circuit operates 6:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to midnight Saturdays. The Purple Circuit operates 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. The introduction of the Music City Circuit replaced Route 94 Music City Star Downtown Shuttle.