WeGo Public Transit

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 to create a public transportation system using steam and mules to power rail cars. The first electric streetcar in Nashville came in 1889.{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Alejandro |title=The Scene Turns 30: A Brief History of Nashville's Public Transportation |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/the-i-scene-i-turns-30-a-brief-history-of-nashville-s-public-transportation/article_292d5727-3b25-5ada-bf70-7af126653cbd.html |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Nashville Scene |date=August 2019 |language=en}} 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 by February 1941.{{cite news |date=February 2, 1941 |title=Demise of Randor Street 'Owl' Marks Final Theft of City Sleep; Modern Busses Take Over |page=A7 |work=The Nashville Tennessean |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19267643/nashvilles_last_streetcar_1941/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 15, 2018}} {{open access}} 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.{{Cite journal |last=MALLACH |first=STANLEY |date=1979 |title=The Origins of the Decline of Urban Mass Transportation in the United States, 1890-1930 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44368292 |journal=Urbanism Past & Present |issue=8 |pages=1–17 |jstor=44368292 |issn=0160-2780}} 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.{{cite web|title=A History of Transit in Nashville|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/setpage.asp?page=mta_history.html}}

Due to a major flood in May 2010, the MTA suffered losses to their fleet and their maintenance/administration offices. The total losses amounted to 39 buses and 39 paratransit vans,{{Cite web |last=Roman |first=Alex |title=Nashville MTA restores services following rains, flooding |url=https://www.metro-magazine.com/10008122/nashville-mta-restores-services-following-rains-flooding |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=www.metro-magazine.com}} various other support vehicles and severe damage caused to both the maintenance/administration offices and to the Riverfront Music City Star (now known as the WeGo Star) train station.{{Cite web |publisher=Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Davidson County of Tennessee |date=July 6, 2011 |title=Severe Flooding May 2010 Disaster Declaration #FEMA-1909-DR After Action Report / Improvement Plan |url=https://filetransfer.nashville.gov/portals/0/sitecontent/OEM/docs/AARIP.pdf |access-date=September 22, 2022}} Service was interrupted for four days, with limited service being restored afterwards for the next four weeks.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} By early June 2010, the MTA had obtained loaner buses and other vehicles from surrounding transit agencies, including Memphis, Cincinnati, Clarksville and others. Regular transit service was restored shortly thereafter.{{cite news |last=Upchurch |first=Jenny |date=May 13, 2010 |title=Out-of-town buses help carry load for MTA |page=B1 |work=The Tennessean}}

On July 12, 2018, the MTA announced that it was re-branding itself as WeGo Public Transit to reflect the changing landscape of public transit in the region and to also coincide with various recommendations from the 2016 nMotion plan. Despite the failure of the 2018 transit referendum, plans to re-brand the agency were already in place prior to the referendum being held, and the decision to re-brand was made independently of the referendum effort and its outcome.{{cite web|title=Nashville MTA announces rebranding of Nashville's transit system|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn781.pdf|access-date=2018-07-13}}{{cite web|title=WeGo FAQ|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://nashvillemta.org/PDF/WeGoFAQ2.pdf|access-date=2018-07-13}}

After years of study, the MTA secured taxpayer funding to purchase the vehicles necessary for a bus rapid transit (BRT) light line. On September 27, 2009, the MTA implemented the first phase of its new BRT service on the Gallatin Road corridor, designated as route 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite. Covering {{convert|12|mi|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 {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}}, 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.

A second high use corridor was identified for implementation and funding goes along Murfreesboro Pike. The 55 Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite, which began service on Monday, April 1, 2013,{{cite web |title=Summary of Changes for spring 2013 |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn8.pdf |access-date=2013-03-13 |work=Nashville MTA}} comes three years after the 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite, a 12-mile stretch from downtown's Music City Central to RiverGate Mall, began service. The Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite stretches from downtown to the Antioch area near the Global Mall at the Crossings, formerly Hickory Hollow Mall.{{cite web |title=Bus rapid transit 'lite' planned for Murfreesboro Pike |url=http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/bus-rapid-transit-lite-planned-murfreesboro-pike |access-date=2012-04-25}}{{cite web |title=Proposed service changes for spring 2013 |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/PDFHomePage/6.pdf |access-date=2013-01-28 |work=Nashville MTA}}

Originally, Mayor Karl Dean had hoped to start running "lite" bus rapid transit service on Charlotte and Nolensville pikes in 2014,{{cite web |title='Lite' BRT in the works for Charlotte, Nolensville pikes |url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130712/NEWS0202/307120134/-Lite-BRT-works-Charlotte-Nolensville-pikes |access-date=2013-07-19 |work=The Tennessean}} but plans for the Charlotte BRT Lite were discussed at several public meetings in late January and early February 2015.{{cite web |title=Public meetings scheduled for January 27, 29 and February 3, 5 |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn289.pdf |access-date=2015-01-15 |work=Nashville MTA}} On March 2, 2015, it was announced that Charlotte Pike will be the third major corridor in Nashville to have BRT Lite service, joining Gallatin Pike and Murfreesboro Pike. 50 Charlotte Pike BRT, which began service on Monday, March 30, 2015, offers limited stops traveling between Music City Central in downtown to the Charlotte Walmart located off River Road.{{cite web |title=MTA Board approves Charlotte Pike BRT lite service |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn289.pdf |access-date=2015-03-02 |work=Nashville MTA}}

In March 2015, preliminary plans began for a BRT Lite route to be on Nolensville Pike to begin in the fall of 2015.{{cite web |title=Charlotte and Nolensville BRT lite |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/Nashville-MTA-Charlotte-Nolensville-BRT-Lite.asp |access-date=2015-03-04 |work=Nashville MTA}}

Route 52 Nolensville Pike BRT lite, which began service on Sunday, March 27, 2016, operates on Nolensville Pike and offers more frequent service, but with fewer

stops. All buses serve Nolensville Pike between Downtown and Harding Place with branches to Hickory Plaza (Route 52A) and Wallace/Ezell (Route 52B).{{cite web |title=System Changes go into effect March 27 |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn485.pdf |access-date=2016-03-22 |work=Nashville MTA}} While the other previous BRT Lite corridors (Gallatin Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, and Charlotte Pike) all feature both a local service to supplement their perspective BRT lite lines, the Nolensville Pike corridor only features the 52 Nolensville Pike BRT Lite (which replaces the 12 Nolensville Road route).{{cite web |title=System Changes go into effect March 27 |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/pdf/fn485.pdf |access-date=2016-03-22 |work=Nashville MTA}}

WeGo's bus system serves all of Nashville and Davidson County. While no bus service is directly provided to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Forest Hills, some service is provided, though, to Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Goodlettsville and Oak Hill.{{cite web|title=Nashville MTA System Map|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/News/pub96.pdf|access-date=2010-02-04}}

Service to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Lakewood began on Monday, April 30, 2012.{{cite web|title=Summary of Changes Brochure (Spring 2012)|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/news/pub137.pdf|access-date=2012-04-02}} Route 27 Old Hickory once provided weekday service in Old Hickory via Lakewood. Buses traveled to and from downtown Nashville and Madison. Park-n-rides once existed at the former City Hall in Lakewood and the WeGo Administrative Offices on Myatt Drive in Madison.{{cite web|title=Summary of Changes Brochure (Spring 2012)|work=Nashville MTA|url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/news/pub135.pdf|access-date=2012-03-17}}

WeGo, as of November 2023, offers 8 frequent bus lines. The service operates every 15 minutes or less on major corridors throughout Davidson County.{{Cite web |title=Buses - Transit Services {{!}} WeGo Public Transit |url=https://www.wegotransit.com/ride/transit-services/buses/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=www.wegotransit.com}}

• 3 West End
• 7 Hillsboro
• 22 Bordeaux
• 23 Dickerson Pike
• 50 Charlotte Pike
• 52 Nolensville Pike
• 55 Murfreesboro Pike
• 56 Gallatin Pike

WeGo 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 {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} from a regular bus route. This service also provides elderly people with a way to get to doctors' appointments and pick up medication. The fare price for this service is $3.70 per ride.

This is an application based service, these can be downloaded from the WeGo Website and must be returned to the Central location downtown.

File:WeGo Gillig Low Floor at Elizabeth Duff Transit Center, Nashville.jpg

In May 2007, the MTA began construction of Music City Central for $54 million,{{cite news |date=Oct 24, 2008 |title=MTA looks to save Music City Star |newspaper=Nashville City Paper |url=http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/mta-looks-save-music-city-star}} a downtown bus transfer station and hub next to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. It replaced the outdoor Downtown Transit Mall on Deaderick Street.{{cite report |url=https://www.nashville.gov/departments/wego-public-transit/strategic-transit-master-plan |title=Nashville Strategic Transit Master Plan |date=August 27, 2009 |publisher=Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority |chapter=8: Opportunities for Improving MTA Service and Image |chapter-url=https://filetransfer.nashville.gov/portals/0/SiteContent/MTA/docs/StrategicTransitMasterPlan/10Ch8Opportunities.pdf |access-date=7 March 2025 |quote=The Music City Central Station is a new state-of-the-art facility that replaced our street level transfer site which resulted in crowded downtown sidewalks. The well lit areas, with heated customer waiting areas, provide a new look for downtown transit.}} The facility opened to the public on Oct. 26, 2008. Many major lines operate as spokes meeting at this hub.{{cite news |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/wego-riders-concerns/article_463dcf6c-5f2c-11ef-8f2f-27e9e4ff25f2.html |title=Your Move, Nashville: Riders Evaluate Bus Network on Efficiency and Experience |first=Eli |last=Motycka |date=August 22, 2024 |work=Nashville Scene |access-date=6 March 2025}}

The transfer hub was renamed to WeGo Central along with the rebranding of the service in 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/07/13/nashville-transit-metro-transit-authority-revamps-look-new-branding/782958002/ |title=Nashville's Metro Transit Authority revamps with new look and name |first=Jordyn |last=Pair |date=July 13, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |access-date=6 March 2025}} In 2023, it was renamed to the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, in honor of the first woman and the first African American woman to drive buses for Nashville MTA.{{cite news |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/facilities/press-release/53077149/wego-public-transit-wego-renames-wego-central-as-elizabeth-duff-transit-center |title=WeGo renames WeGo Central as Elizabeth Duff Transit Center |date=November 3, 2023 |work=Mass Transit |access-date=6 March 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/obituaries/elizabeth-duff-dead-coronavirus.html |title=Elizabeth R. Duff, First Woman to Drive a Nashville City bus, Dies at 72 |first=Stephen |last=Kurczy |date=February 23, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=7 March 2025}} A mural was painted at the transit center by Creative Girls Rock, featuring Duff's portrait, and unveiled in September 2024.{{cite press release |url=https://www.wegotransit.com/duff-mural-unveiled-at-elizabeth-duff-transit-center-at-wego-central/ |title=Duff mural unveiled at Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central |date=September 12, 2024 |publisher=WeGo Public Transit |access-date=7 March 2025}}

Elizabeth Duff Transit Center is a two-story facility with climate-controlled waiting areas. Each level has a U-shaped driveway with twelve bus bays, arranged with six lining each of the straight lengths of the driveways; the upper level opens onto Representative John Lewis Way, while the lower level opens onto 4th Avenue.{{cite web |url=https://www.wegotransit.com/assets/1/6/2024-02-26_WeGo_Central_sitemap_and_bays_FINAL.pdf |title=WeGo Central map |date=February 26, 2024 |publisher=WeGo Public Transit |access-date=7 March 2025}} Riders can buy tickets, check bus schedules, and shop at a convenience store (lower level) or donut shop (upper level), both located at the facility. A multi-story public parking garage is located above the transfer portion of the facility.

WeGo Transit & the RTA also have a Park & Ride program where passengers can park their cars in designated parking lots and ride the bus to their destination.

Local service fares are $2.00 for adults; $1.00 for youth aged 19 and under, seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare card holders with a Discount ID. Full-day fares are $4.00 and full calendar month fares are $65.00 for adults. Commuter buses cost $4.25.{{Cite web |title=Ticket Types - QuickTicket |url=https://www.wegotransit.com/buy/ticket-types/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=WeGo Public Transit}} WeGo Transit finished implementing its QuickTicket fare card system in January 2022.{{Cite web |last=Crutchfield |first=Ambriehl |date=2022-01-21 |title=You can now pay your WeGo bus fare on your phone or a reloadable app, checking off a 2015 goal of the agency |url=https://wpln.org/post/you-can-now-pay-your-wego-bus-fare-on-your-phone-or-a-reloadable-app-checking-off-a-2015-goal-of-the-agency/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=WPLN News |language=en-US}} Paper tickets were phased out in September 2023.{{Cite web |last=Hamblin |first=Brianna |date=2023-10-01 |title=WeGo changes to ticketing go into effect |url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/wego-changes-to-ticketing-go-into-effect |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF) |language=en}}

{{Main|WeGo Star}}

File:MCSLineup01 jpg 79417.jpg locomotives in use by the WeGo Star lined up within the Lebanon, Tennessee yards. The third F40PH on the far right is a former Amtrak locomotive painted in its original Pacific Surfliner scheme. All three locomotives have since been repainted into the WeGo scheme.]]

The WeGo Star {{reporting mark|NRTX}} is a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee. The service uses the existing track of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The line stops at seven stations: Riverfront, Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hamilton Springs and Lebanon. The operation covers {{convert|32|mi|km|0}} of rail line. The MTA took over operation of the commuter service in 2008 after initial service began on September 18, 2006.{{cite news |date=August 31, 2006 |title=A Star is born: Nashville commuter trains to begin Sept. 18 |work=Trains |url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2006/08/a-star-is-born-nashville-commuter-trains-to-begin-sept-18 |access-date=August 6, 2010}} In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had an annual ridership of {{American transit ridership|TN Nashville RTA CR annual}}.

A proposed expansion of the system to Clarksville and Ashland City is projected to cost $525 million.{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Tony |date=May 10, 2016 |title=Middle Tennessee's Best Hope For New Commuter Rail Is Taking Shape; Here's What It Looks Like |publisher=Nashville Public Radio |url=http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/middle-tennessee-s-best-hope-new-commuter-rail-taking-shape-here-s-what-it-looks#stream/0 |access-date=April 14, 2018}}

WeGo and the RTA are conducting a strategic planning process called nMotion to find new and innovative ways to improve transportation in Nashville.{{cite web |date=28 March 2016 |title=Public invited to transportation meeting Monday |url=http://wkrn.com/2016/03/28/public-invited-to-transportation-meeting-monday/ |access-date=2016-03-28 |work=WKRN}} nMotion is WeGo and the RTA's Strategic Plan, a 25-year comprehensive plan designed to meet the Nashville area's vision for transit. The plan will look at how the transit system works today and identify opportunities to enhance the transit system, improve service, attract and retain new riders and meet the growing needs of the Nashville region. Throughout the project, the public will engage in developing the blueprint of actions to make the best opportunities a reality.{{cite web |title=About nMotion |url=http://nmotion2015.com/about/ |access-date=2016-03-28 |work=nMotion}}

In March 2016, WeGo and the RTA began asking for input on three future scenarios for the region's transit system at community meetings. Each scenario presents different transit options for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee. At the meetings, attendees have the chance to review the scenarios and provide input on which strategies the region should consider improving its transit system.{{cite web |title=Community meetings scheduled for final phase of MTA/RTA nMotion strategic plan update |url=http://www.nashvillemta.org/News/news868.pdf |access-date=2016-03-28 |work=NashvilleMTA}}

Mayor Karl Dean had his eyes set on a full-fledged bus rapid transit system taking passengers from West End Avenue down Broadway, across the river to East Nashville's Five Points district. The Amp (formally known as the East-West Connector) would have begun at Five Points in East Nashville and extends down Broadway, West End, and Harding Road to White Bridge Road.

The difference between the AMP and the BRT Lite (at the time only available in operation along Gallatin Road and Murfreesboro Pike) is that the former would have been a full-fledged bus rapid transit system, with buses occupying exclusive lanes of traffic.{{cite web|title=Nashville MTA—Broadway/West End Corridor Study|url=http://www.eastwestconnector.org/|access-date=2012-04-25}}{{cite web|title=Dean, consultants favor bus rapid transit — not streetcar — for east-west connector|url=http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/dean-consultants-favor-bus-rapid-transit-not-streetcar-east-west-connector|access-date=2012-04-25}}

On the afternoon of January 22, 2015, the MTA announced that it would "cease work on the Amp," though strategic planning for mass transit in the region will continue.{{cite web|title=It's official: MTA to stop work on the Amp|work=Nashville Business Journal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2015/01/mta-to-stop-work-on-the-amp.html?ana=e_nsh_bn_breakingnews&u=06hXLVNETZ1ug/HnfbNqUA0e613384&t=1421976824|access-date=2015-01-22}}

{{main|Let's Move Nashville}}

In October 2017, Mayor Megan Barry unveiled her $5.2 billion plans for expanding Nashville's transportation infrastructure including the addition of light rail service.{{cite news |last1=Garrison |first1=Joey |date=October 17, 2017 |title=Mayor Barry unveils sweeping $5.2 billion transit proposal for Nashville with light rail, massive tunnel |work=The Tennessean |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/10/17/nashville-mayor-megan-barry-unveils-ambitious-mass-transit-plan-for-music-city/759973001/ |accessdate=January 18, 2018}} The final mass transit system plan named "Let's Move Nashville", included 26 miles (42 km) of light rail and 25 miles (40 km) of bus rapid transit, was later rejected 64% to 36% in a local referendum in May 2018.

• List of bus transit systems in the United States

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{{Tennessee public transit}}

Category:Transportation in Nashville, Tennessee

Category:Transportation in Davidson County, Tennessee

Category:Bus transportation in Tennessee

Category:Government agencies established in 1973

Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Tennessee

Category:Bus rapid transit in Tennessee