I ride this train daily from Hermitage and definitely agree with the issues presented here. I can also speak to the questions posed in section 2:
1. (Why not the bus?) The bus is subject to the same traffic as everyone else. Coming back it can easily take over an hour while the train is consistent both ways.
2. (Why not drive?) Traffic applies here too, but also parking costs in downtown are insane. Many employers do not provide free parking and there may not be capacity for everyone to park there.
That’s part of what makes the train situation so frustrating. The train is (for me) genuinely a better experience but that’s more because of how bad all the rest of the infrastructure is here. And that’s also because I specifically chose to live in a location that would make it viable. It’s so bad that even a merely so-so system would be a huge improvement.
I think the foremost issue Nashville needs to solve is the first and last mile connectivity. I could not walk to the station unless I want to spend half of that time on the edge of a busy road with no sidewalk. There are bus stops that are literally on the shoulder of a 50mph road. We have so far to go but at least we are seeing steps.
I ride this train daily from Hermitage and definitely agree with the issues presented here. I can also speak to the questions posed in section 2:
1. (Why not the bus?) The bus is subject to the same traffic as everyone else. Coming back it can easily take over an hour while the train is consistent both ways.
2. (Why not drive?) Traffic applies here too, but also parking costs in downtown are insane. Many employers do not provide free parking and there may not be capacity for everyone to park there.
That’s part of what makes the train situation so frustrating. The train is (for me) genuinely a better experience but that’s more because of how bad all the rest of the infrastructure is here. And that’s also because I specifically chose to live in a location that would make it viable. It’s so bad that even a merely so-so system would be a huge improvement.
I think the foremost issue Nashville needs to solve is the first and last mile connectivity. I could not walk to the station unless I want to spend half of that time on the edge of a busy road with no sidewalk. There are bus stops that are literally on the shoulder of a 50mph road. We have so far to go but at least we are seeing steps.