VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 Spring 2014 Dickson pilot project set to launch April 28 Hamilton Springs Plans are being made to offer a Bob Rial said. “This initiative will dem- awarded $1.6 million two-week pilot project for express bus onstrate not only that there is a great service from the City of Dickson to need for transit in our area, but it will grant for commuter downtown Nashville. show our residents how easy and ben- rail station Free service will be available to the eficial it is to use public transportation.” first 56 passengers each weekday from The Music City Star will soon April 28-May 9 and will be operated by be adding another rail stop to Gray Line of Tennessee for the RTA. its route. The RTA was recently This pilot project is being offered to awarded a $1.6 million federal grant by the Nashville Metro- gauge the interest of commuters in the politan Planning Organization Dickson area. (MPO) to fund the completion The morning bus will depart from of Hamilton Springs Station lo- the City of Dickson at 6:40 a.m. and ar- cated in Middle Tennessee’s rive at Music City Central in downtown first transit-oriented develop- Nashville at 7:40 a.m. The afternoon ment (TOD). bus will depart from Music City Central The Hamilton Springs Sta- Bay 7 at 4:38 p.m. and arrive in Dickson tion will be the Music City Star’s at 5:40 p.m. A Park & Ride lot will be lo- seventh regional rail station. cated at the Walmart on Beasley Drive Currently in the design phase, in Dickson. construction of the station is “Accessible public transportation is expected to begin in the spring of 2015. important to our community,” Dickson Lebanon is among the highest County Mayor and RTA Board Member in population growth in Tennes- see, with a 33 percent popula- Join us at Nashville Earth Day Festival April 19 tion increase since 1990. The addition of the train station will This year’s Earth Day Festival will be held at Centennial Park on Saturday, create a new point of access to April 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Members of the Nashville MTA and RTA staff will the Music City Star and increase be present to promote the many benefits of public transportation in the Middle ridership significantly. Tennessee region. The Nashville MTA also will have a hybrid bus on display Phase one of the 396-unit luxury Hamilton Springs apart- for attendees to explore. ment community opened last The free, family-friendly festival will feature exhibits and activities to help fall. Other residential housing educate Nashvillians about protecting our environment. For more information and businesses centered by the regarding the event, please visit www.nashvilleearthday.org. train station are planned. A key feature of TODs is the emphasis on transit modes other than the automobile. “The RTA board and I are pleased to partner with Jack Bell Builders and the MPO on our region’s first transit- oriented development,” said RTA General Manager Lora Baulsir. “We are looking forward to opening the new station.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Music City Star financially secure Commuter rail not effected by short-line controversy The current funding freeze affect- equity fund to the short-line railroads ing Tennessee’s short-line railroads were suspended by TDOT pending has led to speculation there will be the outcome of appeals. a disruption in the Music City Star’s The situation is being monitored, service. The RTA is confident that and there are a number of options the operation of the Music City Star available to address this revenue will continue unimpeded since it is not problem for the state’s short line rail- funded by this revenue source and is roads. To begin, the state is appeal- not a short-line; it is a commuter train. ing the decision and is not going to The particular track utilized by the allow this vital network of rail lines Music City Star is actually owned by to go away, permanently injuring the Nashville & Eastern Railroad Author- economic well-being of many Ten- RTA GM Lora Baulsir and former CEO Paul J. Ballard ity (NERA). nessee counties. The jobs and busi- unveil a plaque dedicated to Sheila Watkins Varga at the Mt. Juliet train station In mid-October 2013, a federal ness losses would be immediately felt judge in Nashville stopped the state by the state’s economy. And finally, from collecting the tax that supplied there will be other opportunities to RTA honors Sheila Varga funding for rail improvements for the bring revenue sources to the table to short-line railroads in Tennessee. The prevent the Music City Star from be- On July 30, 2013, Middle Tennes- money for these improvements comes ing harmed. see lost one of its most admired Music from the state’s Short Line Equity Legislation is pending in the Gener- City Star riders and supporters – Sheila Fund, which receives its money from al Assembly that will change the way Watkins Varga. In recognition of her a seven percent tax the state charges large railroads are taxed. Since TDOT many achievements – participating in on diesel fuel for railroad locomotives. has about $40 million in the fund, the the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennes- Lawsuits were filed by the large rail- RTA is optimistic that NERA and the see’s inaugural Transit Citizen Lead- road companies claiming the tax is other short-line rail authorities will ership Academy, as well as being the discriminatory. Payments out of the soon begin receiving the funds again. president of the Regional Commuters Association – the RTA placed a com- NEWS & NOTES memorative plaque at her daily boarding station in Mt. Juliet. Search for new CEO A dedication ceremony to unveil The Nashville MTA Board is conducting a national search to replace the plaque was held on March 25. former MTA/RTA CEO Paul J. Ballard, who left Nashville to become Family members and friends gathered president and CEO of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority. A few as former RTA CEO Paul J. Ballard, of Ballard’s many RTA accomplishments include directing the start-up RTA Communications Director Patri- of the Music City Star, expanding regional bus service, and consis- cia Harris-Morehead, and fellow Music tently increasing ridership for both MTA and RTA. City Star riders Clyde Hicks and Johna Starcher provided remarks about Shei- RTA rebranding la’s love of the train and public transit. The RTA Marketing Committee has been discussing the need to re-ex- When passing by the plaque, those amine the RTA’s marketing brands of services. Members of the RTA who admired or were influenced by Board are excited to begin this process with a series of meetings be- Sheila’s dedication to improving public ginning this month to examine the overall brand position. As part of transit in the region, as well as those this rebranding exercise, you may see more of the RTA staff on buses who did not know her, are invited to conducting surveys in order to gather more information for future pause for a moment of silence to honor marketing needs. this “Special Friend of the Music City Star” who was among the original group Track rehab of riders to board the train in September The Music City Star is currently in the middle of the first phase of track 2006. rehab; between three and four thousand wooden ties have been re- placed thus far. Additional tie curves, spikes, ballasts, culverts and welding of the rail also are needed to increase speed allowances and Follow us on twitter: keep safety our top priority. Plans for a new rail passing siding con- @MiddleTN_RTA struction also are underway to enable service expansion. Music City Star Tracks is a publication of the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee. For more infor- mation about our services, visit our website at RTArelaxandride.com or call Customer Care at (615) 862-5950..