Transportation committee recommends two‑meeting deferral on Vision Zero resolution after debate

The Metropolitan Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Monday recommended a two‑meeting deferral for RS2026 2064, a resolution urging renewed "Vision Zero" efforts to eliminate pedestrian fatalities in Nashville and Davidson County.

The resolution, which called on the U.S. Department of Transportation, multimodal partners and the mayor’s office to renew and accelerate Vision Zero initiatives after a recent rise in pedestrian and cyclist deaths, was discussed but not advanced to the full council on Monday. Committee members voted 10‑0 to recommend a two‑meeting deferral.

Council member Cubin, who spoke in favor of the resolution during committee debate, said city transportation staff told her they are preparing a request for proposals and are hiring a new director for the Vision Zero effort. Cubin recounted recent fatal crashes and argued the city must act: "We can't have people dying on our roadways and this is preventable and we need to prevent it," she said.

Cubin said she intended to bring the resolution to the full Metropolitan Council meeting the following day but planned to defer action there to give staff time to respond to concerns and to align with the incoming director’s onboarding.

The committee’s action was procedural: a member moved a two‑meeting deferral, the motion was seconded and the committee recommended the deferral by voice and roll call, recorded as 10 in favor, zero opposed and zero not voting.

The measure’s text urges renewed emphasis on engineering, enforcement, education and evaluation measures that make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Committee discussion did not produce additional specific policy directives or funding commitments; members instead deferred to staff for follow‑up and to receive materials from the transportation department.

The meeting also approved a consent agenda that included multiple routine items such as a license agreement for a multi‑use pedestrian greenway, amendments to a Safe Streets for All grant, cooperative purchasing agreements for vehicle maintenance, and water and sewer acceptance items. The consent agenda passed 9‑0, as announced at committee.

Committee members also noted an after‑action report from NES is expected around June 24; members were encouraged to review the NES presentation from last week if they missed that meeting. The committee adjourned after those updates.

The resolution now remains on the committee calendar; staff said the item will return for further consideration after the deferral period and after transportation staff provide updated information to the council.