THE SPARK THAT IGNITED THE FLAME: How Transportation Transforms Communities

By: David Rast, PE Regional Transportation Manager/Vice President

Madison, Tennessee, a suburban neighborhood northeast of Nashville, was a rural residential community along the Cumberland River in the early 1800s. Six decades ago, this bustling area was economically sound and thriving, but over time, commercial and industrial interests have encroached on the area and lack of investment took its toll. Today, the heavily commercial area is flanked to the east and west by residential development with businesses and residents alike rallying to restore the community to its former vibrancy.

In 2016, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County (Metro) turned their sights to Madison Station Boulevard (once known as the Neely’s Bend Extension project). As a component of Metro’s planning of the region, Councilmember Nancy VanReece spearheaded an effort to bring this long-awaited project to reality. In response to the Mayor’s Amended Executive Order 031 committing to the Green and Complete Streets Program, the project’s primary goal was to promote multi-modal options such as pedestrian walkability, enhanced bike paths with circulation, and accommodations for automobiles with a sustainable and environmentally-responsible footprint — all vital components for the reimagining of Madison Station Boulevard.

With a focus to rebuild the community, the project began to take shape with Metro selecting the project team to bring the transformative project to life. TTL, an engineering, environmental, and construction management consulting firm, led the design of the landmark project. Madison Station Boulevard proved to be an especially complex project due to the many challenges that included balancing transportation needs, drainage issues, and existing infrastructure.

The Madison community has been actively engaged from the start with businesses and residents alike as the first voices to call attention to the project’s potential. As TTL organized the first of many community stakeholder meetings, residents and businesses brought ideas, concepts, and solutions to the table for the re-