Traffic-Jumping Buses Coming to South Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN — For the first time ever, buses on one of the city's busiest routes will have the ability to skip ahead of traffic following an 18-month project set to begin early in 2017. Nashville Public Radio reports that the Metropolitan Transit Authority will embark on a $13.7 million effort which will give special lanes and traffic lights to buses on the highly-traveled Murfreesboro Road line.

Buses on MTA's Route 55 — the Murfreesboro Road bus rapid transit line — average just 2 m.p.h. during peak rush hour times and even as far out as Nashboro Village only top out at 14 m.p.h. The line has 3,300 daily riders, making it one of the busiest lines in the city traveling one of the city's busiest roads, and its on-time performance is only about 13 percent. To alleviate the issue, MTA aims to improve 41 intersections on an 11-mile stretch of Murfreesboro Road in what is the city's first transit-priority infrastructure project.

For short stretches just ahead of intersections, buses will get their own lanes. When approaching a red light, the buses will swing over, allowing them to move to the front of traffic and then get a green light for a few seconds before the rest of traffic. It will allow the buses to get a jump-start to make-up time and prevent the frustrating situation for other drivers, getting stuck behind a bus, WPLN reports.

Furthermore, expanding technology already in use in some places on Gallatin Pike, stoplights will be able to track buses and adjust light timing to keep buses rolling.

It's no quick-fix though: the project will take 18 months to complete.