ACTION REQUIRED THIS WEEK

Metro Transit Authority - Dramatic Cutbacks

Due to a budget shortfall caused by spiking fuel prices, the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and Davidson County is considering the following changes:

  • eliminating routes, including night service
  • eliminating weekend and holiday service
  • eliminating Night Owl service
  • reducing number of runs
  • raising fares
  • REDUCING ACCESSRIDE

These proposed cutbacks could have a serious impact on people with disabilities who do not have access to alternative means of transporation, particularly in the evening and on weekends.

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Cuts are being considered for the following routes:

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1 Vine Hill        2 Belmont        8 8th Avenue South       13 Sylvan Park         16 Madison/Old Hickory

18 Airport/Elm Hill Pike                     30 McFerrin                     31X Harpeth Valley Express

37X Tusculum/McMurray Express           41 Golden Valley                 45X Old Hill Express

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Public Hearings - This Week

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Monday, May 5th - 6pm at the Rochelle Center (Building A), 1020 Southside Court

Tuesday, May 6th - noon & 5:30pm at the Downtown Library

Thursday, May 8th - 6pm at the Madison Library, 610 Gallatin Pike

Monday, May 12th - 5:30pm at the Easley Community Center, 1000 Edghill Avenue

Submitting Public Comments

If you cannot attend a public hearing (more will be scheduled) then you can submit comments directly through May 14th. Submit comments by:

Email - mta.publichearings@nashville.gov

Fax - (615) 862-6208

Phone - (615) 862-5950

Write Your Council Member

In addition to attending public forums and submitting comments to MTA, we also encourage readers to sent a note to their councilman.  Find your council on this page: http://www.nashville.gov/council/council_roster.htm or scroll to the bottom of this mailing for a complete list with email addresses.

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Sample Letter

Dear _________:

I am writing to oppose any cutbacks to services that would negatively impact people with disabilities in Nashville.  As I understand it, MTA is not only considering cuts to regular routes, but is seriously considering cuts to AccessRide which is a lifeline to the community for many people with disabilities as well as a reducing nighttime and weekend service.

It’s true that fare increases, route eliminations and reductions will impact everyone, but any reductions in service would be especially hard on persons with disabilities such as those who use AccessRide.  These cuts could leave many stranded in their homes and dependant upon others, especially those who cannot drive or who may use a wheelchair.

For that reason I urge you to reach out into the disability community to learn more about their needs and how to minimize the impact on this community.  Better yet, I hope you will find an alternative to cuts that preserves 100% of AccessRide.

Sincerely,

Jane Q Public

Address

Phone number


Other Contacts

President of MTA, Paul J. Ballard

Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors

Council at Large (represents everyone)

Tim Garrett Megan Barry Charlie Tygard Ronnie Steine Jerry Maynard

Full Council by District-

Dist. 1 - Lonnell Matthews - Jr.lonnell.matthews@nashville.gov

Dist. 2 - Frank Harrison - frank.harrison@nashville.gov

Dist. 3 - Walter Hunt - whuntnash@aol.com

Dist. 4 Michael Craddock - michael.craddock@nashville.gov

Dist. 5 Pam Murray - pam.murray@nashville.gov

Dist. 6 Mike Jameson - mike.jameson@nashville.gov

Dist. 7 Erik Cole - erik.cole@nashville.gov

Dist. 8 Karen Bennett - karen.bennett@nashville.gov

Dist. 9 Jim Forkum - jim.forkum@nashville.gov

Dist. 10 Rip Ryman - rip.ryman@nashville.gov

Dist. 11 Darren Jernigan - darren.jernigan@nashville.gov

Dist. 12 Jim Gotto - jim.gotto@nashville.gov

Dist. 13 Carl Burch - carl.burch@nashville.gov

Dist. 14 Bruce Stanley - bruce.stanley@nashville.gov

Dist. 15 Phil Claiborne - phil.claiborne@nashville.gov

Dist. 16 Anna Page - anna.page@nashville.gov

Dist. 17 Sandra Moore - sandra.moore@nashville.gov

Dist. 18 Keith Durbin - keith.durbin@nashville.gov

Dist. 19 Erica Gilmore -erica.gilmore@nashville.gov

Dist. 20 Buddy Baker - buddy.baker@nashville.gov

Dist. 21 Edith Langster - edith.langster@nashville.gov

Dist. 22 Eric Crafton - eric.crafton@nashville.gov

Dist. 23 Emily Evans - emily.evans@nashville.gov

Dist. 24 Jason Holleman - jason.holleman@nashville.gov

Dist. 25 Sean McGuire - sean.mcguire@nashville.gov

Dist. 26  Greg Adkins - greg.adkins@nashville.gov

Dist. 27 Randy Foster - randy.foster@nashville.gov

Dist. 28 Duane Dominy - duane.dominy@nashville.gov

Dist. 29 Vivian Wilhoite - vivian.wilhoite@nashville.gov

Dist. 30 Jim Hodge - jim.hodge@nashville.gov

Dist. 31 Parker Toler - parker.toler@nashville.gov

Dist. 32 Sam Coleman - sam.coleman@nashville.gov

Dist. 33 Rober Duvall - robert.duvall@nashville.gov

Dist. 34 Carter Todd - carter.todd@nashville.gov

Dist. 35 Bo Mitchell - bo.mitchell@nashville.gov

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To read the MTA Notice about the Public Hearings - Available only in PDF  To request information from MTA in alternative formats please call 862-5950 and ask to speak to the MTA’s ADA Coordinator.

IF you write to MTA or your Councilman please feel free to copy us at news@tndisability.org so that we know who is hearing from the public.  Thank you.