Overjoyed. That’s the best way to describe District 32 councilwoman Joy Styles these days when discussing the WeGo transit hub that will be built in Antioch.

With the Sept. 12 presentation of a $5 million check from Federal Transit Administration – on Styles’ 50th birthday, no less – to help fund the regional mobility facility, the Antioch Transit Center will serve as one of the anchors for Metro’s $44 million redevelopment of the former Hickory Hollow/Global Mall property, which it purchased last year.

Combined with state funds totaling $8.2 million, some $17.5 million has been raised to fund the project. Groundbreaking will take place next year and the hub could open as early as 2025, according to Styles.

“I love that Nashville is making the investment in us. To have this funding, for this regional transit center to be the first thing that’s going to be moving on the site, for us changes the game,” Styles says.

“It will be a very collaborative process (between state, local and federal entities). And the goal is we’ll be looking at moving dirt starting next year and that this (hub) could be completed by 2025 (or) 2026 without any hiccups.”

In making the presentation to WeGo, FTA regional administrator Yvette Taylor calls it “an important step for Nashville, particularly for people in the southeast. We applaud WeGo Public Transit for creating a better transportation future with the new Antioch Transit Center, which will make it safer and easier for people to catch buses and get wherever they need to go in the city and beyond.”

That’s the same message from WeGo CEO Steve Bland.

The new Antioch hub will have six to eight bus bays, seating in a climate-controlled waiting area, pedestrian and bike access, car and van pool pickup, car and bike sharing options and park and ride.

-- Photo By Michelle Morrow |The Ledger

“This is another step in our ongoing commitment to increase service and provide people with new transit options across Davidson County,” Bland says. “Federal and state funding is crucial to that effort. … The transit center will be an integral part of the continuing transformation of the area into a community centerpiece.”

The Antioch hub is expected to be similar in design to the Ernest “Rip” Patton Junior North Nashville Transit Center, which is expected to be completed next spring. It will boast between six and eight bus bays, seating in a climate-controlled waiting area and other amenities. WeGo riders “can conveniently transfer between routes and modes, including pedestrian and bike access, car and van pool pickup, car and bike sharing options, and it will include a park and ride,” WeGo promises.

The ATC site is on the southern end of the highest ridership bus route in the WeGo system, Route 55 Murfreesboro Pike.

“So as a result of all of this – and with our October service changes (QuickTicket or exact cash required on fixed-route service) – WeGo public transit will be operating more service than ever before,” Bland says.

“We have been among the very best performers nationally in the return of ridership to pre-pandemic levels … for our No. 55 Murfreesboro Pike service which is now carrying on many weekdays over 5,000 riders per weekday and as up at well over 130% of pre-pandemic levels.”

Here’s a closer look at the new hub as well as some of the issues and answers to Metro’s transportation issues.

Transportation in transition

The new North Nashville Center at 26th Avenue and Clarksville Highway will have an air-conditioned waiting room, restrooms, Wi-Fi and multiple bus bays to connect several routs across town.

-- Render Provided

News of the FTA funding broke as Nashville transitions from former mayor John Cooper to incoming mayor Freddie O’Connell. Cooper was on hand for the Sept. 12 ceremony at the Southeast Community Center and was lauded by local, state and federal officials for shepherding the project to this point.

“This was a journey. I’m grateful that we were able to get this done in the last four years and to know that we crossed the finish line,” Styles says.

Bland also credits the Cooper administration, noting that over the past four years, WeGo upgraded current bus stops while adding 86 new stops, an increase of over 40% in the number of sheltered bus stops. In addition, WeGo purchased 92 new small buses for its access system and lower ridership routes while acquiring 82 new full-size buses for regular routes with 28 more on order.

“We’ve seen an increase in Metro’s annual operating support for public transportation going from $48.6 million a year before he came into office to $74.7 million with the most recent Metro budget and increased well over 50%,” Bland says.

“And maybe most important for the long term for his long-term legacy and the long-term health of our system, we experienced significant inclusion of WeGo and other multimodal partners in the development of plans like East Bank and the Global Mall redevelopment.”

Cooper says governmental teamwork “gets us to where we are today. This long-overdue regional mobility center would not be possible without all of us working together. I’m grateful for the collaboration and dedication of everyone involved.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day but I think we’re kind of a month into it because we’re beginning to connect all these visions on transit and housing and community and neighborhoods,” Cooper adds. “This is a big vision for Nashville.”

TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley, left, Nashville State President Dr. Shanna Jackson, Nashville MTA Board Member Jessica Dauphin, state Sen. Charlane Oliver, Nashville MTA Chair Gail Carr Williams, Metro Council member Burkley Allen, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, then-Nashville Mayor John Cooper, WeGo CEO Steve Bland, FTA regional administrator Dr. Yvette Taylor, Metro Council member Joy Styles; Metro Council member Delishia Porterfield, Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Metro Council member Deonte Harrell celebrate federal funding for the Antioch hub.

-- Photo Provided

And now that vision shifts to O’Connell, who was sworn into office this past Monday and will hold a public inauguration/celebration Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m., at City Hall Park.

O’Connell has long been a proponent of improving Nashville’s transit system.

“On Day One as Mayor, I will immediately take steps toward building a Frequent Transit Network – one that brings transit closer to communities, extends hours and frequencies and introduces more technology,” O’Connell writes on his readyforreddie.com website.

“This program will accelerate the SoBro community transit center, easing pressure on downtown, as well as finalize site selection and design for an East and Southeast community transit center. We will also intentionally work on increasing participation in the WeGo Ride program, an employer-sponsored commuter program, especially among businesses receiving incentives.

“When you reduce a family’s transportation costs, you allow them to invest more in their future – and when you reduce transportation time, folks can invest more in their family and community. We don’t need more studies; we need action.”

Styles, calling herself “a huge proponent for transit,” says she will push for WeGo to be fully funded in the next budget and has spoken with O’Connell several times about the Antioch hub.

“He’s been on the City Council the last four years and knows the amount of work that’s gone into this project and is very supportive,” Styles says. “I look forward to working with him as he jumps aboard the train that is moving out of the station already and help to shape the vision moving forward.

“We have to crawl before we walk, but it’s time for us to walk. So it’s time for us to fully fund WeGo so that the people that are taking the bus can have the service that they need, the frequency that they need.”

I-24 traffic: Worse before better?

TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley says Interstate 24 is perhaps the biggest reason for improving Nashville’s public transportation system in general and the much-needed Antioch hub in particular.

“This Murfreesboro corridor, this I-24 corridor, is one of the busiest in the state,” Ely states. “We’ve gone from thousands of cars a day to hundreds of thousands of cars a day right here on this corridor,” Eley says. “(The ATC is) “a tremendous, positive change for this community for the future.”

Gail Carr-Williams, board chair for MTA Nashville and Davidson County, says the Route 55 Murfreesboro Pike location, which is operating at 128% of pre-pandemic ridership levels, shows why the upgrade is long overdue.

“(Mayor Cooper) has given us the tools necessary for us to grow transit, for Nashvillians to appreciate transit and to stand as a champion for transit. Not only transit, but for the future of transit. Because if we don’t talk about it now and in the future, we don’t move, we don’t WeGo,” Carr-Williams says.

The question was put to Styles: Will Nashville traffic get worse before it gets better?

“I would say that is definitely the case. But the good news is that there’s actually good news, right? The good news is that we’ve been able to work with TDOT. And TDOT has a lot of projects based on a 10-year plan,” Styles says. “So we now are in the 10-year plan – which previously we were not.

“So now that we are in the 10-year plan, we are working on figuring out what year within the 10-year plan we will be able to address Bell Road, potentially widening it. We’re also working with CSX because they have the train tracks and the overpass there, as well.”

Eley says transportation “is one of those activities that we do in government that virtually every single person benefits from every day,” and credits state Sen. Charlane Oliver and Rep. John Ray Clemmons for helping secure the $5 million state funding for the project.

“This will be a hub for encouraging residents not only to ride the bus, but also to carpool, to ride, share, to bike, to work. So this is really, truly not only tackling a mobility issue but also an economic issue for this region,” Oliver notes. “And I when I say region, I mean also Rutherford County … the people that are commuting to work as well.”

Adds Clemmons: “The very core of mobility is all about equity and opportunity. And you’ve heard a lot today from the speakers about the type of equity that is ensured by ensuring access to transportation and the opportunities – whether it’s opportunity to … to come shop and just enjoy an elevated quality of life.”

According to the news release, WeGo plans to implement new local and express services when ATC opens. That’s good news to Styles, who says she will push for a two-stop express service from Antioch to downtown.

“That way we can convince people … don’t drive. It’s gonna take you 15-20 minutes to get downtown. Don’t get in your car and arrive at work stressed out. Relax. Read a book, Listen to a podcast. Knit. Do whatever makes you happy,” Styles says.

“But you can do it on a bus. That changes your life. That’s less gas. That’s more money in your pocket, right? It’s better for the environment.”