Nashville got its first taste of public transportation in 1860 when two railroad companies were chartered and began using steam and mules to power rail cars.

On April 30, 1889, one of those companies operated the first electric streetcar in Nashville, and the city became one of the first in the nation to have such “modern” transportation.

From the years following the Civil War to the 1920s, numerous companies formed, consolidated and disbanded as competition for passengers created a variety of financial and legal hardships for the struggling companies.

In 1926, motor buses were first introduced in Nashville to supplement the existing street railway service. The Tennessee Electric Power Company took over controlling interest of the public transportation system in 1930. In 1940-41, it phased out Nashville’s streetcar system.

In 1941, the name of the company was changed to Southern Coach Lines, Inc. and, under still another reorganization, the name was changed to the Nashville Transit Company in 1953.

The next 20 years brought unprecedented growth and prosperity to Nashville, resulting in a dramatic increase in the use of the private automobile. Consequently, the number of people riding the bus decreased and the health of the transit system deteriorated. Spiraling costs, higher fares, service cutbacks and deferred maintenance meant lower-quality transit service for those thousands of Nashvillians who still relied on buses.

Realizing the importance of a solid public transit system, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County applied for a federal grant for the purchase of the Nashville Transit Company. The city determined a viable public transportation system contributes to a healthy economy by aiding in employment and reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.

By September 1973, the transfer from private to public ownership was completed, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority was officially chartered. A five-member board of directors was formed to oversee the operation of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The MTA entered into a contract with a company to provide advisory and management services for the public transit system.

In August 1990, McDonald Transit Associates was awarded the contract to manage the day-to-day operation of the system. In turn, McDonald Transit Associates formed Davidson Transit Management, Inc. to employ the workers that operate the public transportation system. This contractual arrangement continued until early 2003.

On Dec. 29, 1992, the employee unit changed from Davidson Transit Management to Davidson Transit Organization, a private, nonprofit organization.

After the completion of a Metro audit and a quest for continual improvement, recent changes were made to the MTA organizational structure with the addition of a chief executive officer. This position was developed to provide the strategic leadership necessary to carry the MTA well into the 21st century.

The CEO reports directly to the MTA board of directors and is responsible for managerial oversight of the entire system. The CEO is the agency’s only Metro government employee. Other personnel are employees of the Davidson Transit Organization, a private, nonprofit organization.