Bright & Early: Getting Around Edition

5 February 2010 | 10:30 am

Author: Christy Frink

Good morning, Nashville. More details about the big transit meeting are emerging and it turns out that city leaders are kicking around actual ideas for a light rail system sometime in the (probably distant) future. Though we know that this kind of talk makes the rounds at least once or twice a year, the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is taking a look at other cities for ideas about how to create a revenue source that would support it. In the meantime, Mayor Dean says that more bus rapid transit routes like the one on Gallatin will be implemented soon. We’re also pretty excited about those free circulator buses we keep hearing about.

Too salty. Williamson and Rutherford counties are among those who predict they would actually run out of salt completely if we had a Situation repeat. And given all those theories about a miniature ice age, we suppose that’s a possibility.
Free wi-fi coming soon! The Nashville Technology Council is aiming for the end of February to implement the free wi-fi network downtown. Though it’ll be limited at first while they work out the kinks and convince businesses to buy extenders, everyone should be able to get on the internet downtown for free pretty soon.
Bits & pieces. It’s eastbound I-440’s turn to be closed this weekend. You may also want to steer clear of White Bridge around the I-40 on-ramp … Snow tonight, but probably not much … If the ‘Noog blows up next year, at least we will know why … Someone’s house is covered in solar panels and it’s not Al Gore.

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David Cintron

Free WiFi = taxpayer supported WiFi....so effectively they're giving me internet I'm already paying for. That is probably restricted/close ports. Yay....:(

Christy Frink

Actually, it's supported through the Nashville Technology Council which is part of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, which is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit. So, they probably receive some grant funding but it's not like it's completely taxpayer funded. And once businesses buy in and purchase extenders to stretch out the signal, that's not funded by taxpayers either. It probably won't be the best setup, but it's citywide wireless internet and it's free!

David Cintron

Ah ok. I stand corrected. You know me, I just like to hate on the gov't in general and usually jump to conclusions without reading the linked article or anything. Just trying to prove an overall point of government expansion and abuse ;)

Jon

I love that you're still posting shots of the snow a week later. You're So Nashville (obviously).

LRT and such are indeed a long way off, but I'm excited that a serious and ambitious transit plan is being considered. This definitely sounds like more than the routine talk. Also, I agree about the free circulator routes (which I thought were going to be in the fairly distant future too)--awesome.

Christy Frink

Haha, definitely. We got so many great shots in the pool that I want to showcase them all! I'd say we've got another two or three left. ;)

Thomas

I still don't know why TDOT won't announce anything east of downtown, but there will be periodic 30 minute closures on 40E between exit 213 (24 split) and 215 (Briley) again this weekend. I think it starts at 10pm on Saturday night and continues through Sunday, but it's hard to tell because there is nothing about it on TDOT's website or twitter accounts.