MTA CEO highlights projects, asset-management update and service expansion plans

During the meeting, the agency chief executive provided a multi-topic operational briefing outlining procurement, planning and service updates. The agency issued a notice to proceed to HDR Inc. for advanced work on the Nolensville Pike Wall Access project and has issued requests for qualifications for planning and design services for a new bus operations and maintenance facility and for design of the Antioch Transit Center.

The CEO said the transit asset management update — a federal requirement updated every four years — is underway and will inform capital investment planning. He told the board the authority expects to expand the fleet by more than 100 vehicles as part of planned service additions, and that the new operations facility will be necessary to support that growth. "We have an expectation with the planned service additions that we'll expand the fleet by over a 100 vehicles," the CEO said.

Regional updates included RTA parking/park-and-ride developments: a Murfreesboro Park & Ride lot under construction targeting a late-September opening with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Oct. 16, and a new lease agreement in Franklin to support service starting in October. Design proposals for the Donaldson Transit Center building are under evaluation, and staff are monitoring the early results of service adjustments that began July 5.

The CEO also reported that the WeGo Star special July 4 service carried more than 1,300 riders and that staff will report ridership outcomes in a future quarterly update. The report contained project timelines and procurement steps but did not include final budget approvals for the new operations facility in this meeting.