Input on potential toll lanes in Nashville
Plus, NES defends controversial tree trimming policy and high rises creep outside the downtown loop
Good morning, Nashville! It’s Tuesday, August 11th. Today’s edition written from Romeo Records & Cafe in Hermitage.
⚡ Quick hits
Weather: ☀️ Heat advisory. High: 98 with heat index as high as 111. Low: 76. Slight chance of storms.
Today’s the last day for you to give input on a TDOT study that’ll look at the potential for toll lanes in Nashville’s “inner loop” area.
NES defended a more aggressive tree trimming policy that’s been blamed for home damage while one member of a Metro panel questioned whether the January ice storm was responsible for improved power reliability by taking down problem trees.
What’s new in Nashville’s Neighborhoods, including Nashville’s airport potentially buying up more land and a high rise creeping into a new part of Nashville
Get nash.news delivered straight to your inbox for free every weekday morning by entering your email. Thank you for supporting my work to simplify Nashville.
🛣️ Input on potential toll lanes in Nashville
Today’s your last chance to comment on TDOT’s “Nashville Inner Loop” study, which essentially looks for ideas to improve some of the busiest stretches of interstate in and around Downtown Nashville.
Among other things, TDOT says it will look at the potential for new toll lanes, which TDOT prefers to call “Choice Lanes.” One of 10 questions on this public form asks “If available, how likely are you to use Choice Lanes to improve connectivity, safety and congestion…?” Here’s a link to the questionnaire.
TDOT already has toll lanes in the works on I-24 from Fesslers Lane to near I-840 in Murfreesboro (map on page 12 of this document). They’re expected to begin opening in the early 2030s.
🌳 NES defends more aggressive tree trimming policy
“Trimming by NES causes falling trees for some property owners”
Despite headlines like that one from WPLN, NES stood by its more aggressive tree trimming policy under questioning from a Metro Council committee yesterday. NES Vice President of Engineering Daniel Johnson admitted the utility needs more data to prove the policy is responsible for an improvement in power reliability.
After last January’s ice storm, NES decided to clear trees up to 15 feet from power lines and other infrastructure instead of 10 feet. The policy has been widely criticized — from claims of unnecessary tree damage to no warning about trimming.
One panelist at yesterday’s meeting questioned whether the ice storm itself might’ve improved the utility’s reliability because it took down so many trees. Johnson replied, “I get what you're saying, and I don't know if there's a good answer.”
Johnson expected to have more data about whether 15 feet is more effective than 10 feet in March.
I also found this interesting: an option few people seem to know about. “If we talk to a homeowner and they are adamant that they do not want our crews trimming their tree, then we have a process where it’s essentially called a refusal. They can make that request, and then we will allow them to go hire their own arborist,” Johnson said. But you’ll have to pay for it yourself, and there’s no listing of “line clearance rated” arborists.
🏠 What’s new in Nashville’s neighborhoods
Donelson
Airport expansion: Nashville’s airport finance committee will consider whether to buy two properties for a future runway: 0 Reynolds Road for $5.9 million and 1715 Murfreesboro Pike for $2 million. Airport leadership also wants to eventually extend a runway to allow direct flights to Asia.
Belle Meade
Cheekwood asked supporters to sign a “SAVE CHEEKWOOD” petition ahead of an August 20 zoning appeals hearing. A neighborhood group claims a new parking garage project violates the city’s zoning rules. Cheekwood claims the group is “seeking to halt operations and public access at Cheekwood.”
Hermitage
Plans to turn an old medical office into a daycare at 244 Jackson Meadows Drive appear to be moving forward. A building permit application brings on a new contractor to complete the project. It’ll have room for 117 children.
Downtown(ish)
Residential high rises are creeping into a new area: plans for a 16-story apartment building with about 300 units at 300 McCann Street, just outside the downtown interstate loop, will be reviewed by Metro’s Planning Commission on Thursday.
South Nashville
Metro’s Planning Commission will review plans for a new neighborhood at 1065 Barnes Road. The proposal includes 110 “multi-family residential units” and 77 “single-family lots” on Thursday. In public comment, one neighbor said, “one of the most urgent concerns is traffic and roadway safety. Nolensville Road is already heavily congested, and ongoing construction in the area has created daily traffic backups, unsafe driving conditions, and major frustration for residents.
Share nash.news with a friend! A large, engaged audience will help me turn this newsletter into a sustainable business. Thanks for your support! - Ryan
📰 A few final headlines…
Metro students return to class today.
Former WKRN News 2 anchors Neil Orne and Nikki Burdine will launch a new morning show tomorrow. It’ll stream on YouTube on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.
As Nashville leaders try to stop a data center near the Nashville Zoo, Senator Marsha Blackburn “didn’t indicate whether she would be in favor of a statewide policy regulating them,” according to the Williamson Scene. In an interview, she said, “communities are going to make decisions about if they want to recruit a data center.”
Blood shortage: “Ascension Saint Thomas has had to reschedule some elective surgeries and could be forced to cancel or delay additional cases because of shortages of blood products, particularly platelets,” the hospital said in a press release.
More Tennessee vs. Nashville tension: Senator Marsha Blackburn “likes to throw punches. I don’t have to step into the ring,” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in an interview with the Long Play Series. “I mean, it’s the national Republican strategy right now is to attack cities. Cities or where Democrats hold power and where we’re demonstrating public policy outcomes that they can’t repeat. Basically, if a Democratic city is becoming too successful, they can come put the cramdown on it.” I’m working on a story about Nashville’s potential relationship with Blackburn if she becomes governor.
🍔 MAP: click here for restaurant inspections across Nashville
Thank you for reading nash.news! Just reply to this email if you have a correction, story idea, concerns about my coverage, or anything else. You can also email me at ryan@nash.news. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow! - Ryan