mta connection - NashvilleMTA.org

the nashville
MTA CONNECTION
Fall 2008
Volume 6, Issue 1
Music City Central Grand Opening scheduled for October 24
Customers will soon be catching
buses at Music City Central (MCC), the
Nashville MTA’s new downtown transit
station. A grand opening celebration has
been scheduled for Oct. 24 with service to
begin operating from MCC, located at 400
Charlotte Ave., on Oct. 26.
Construction remains on schedule and
the building continues to
take shape daily as the
construction crew and
its subcontractors move
A temporary banner on the 5th Avenue entrance to the
building shows how the Music City Central signage will look.
At right, one of the customer waiting areas nears completion.
toward completion of
some of the building’s
exterior elements. Current
milestones include:
Metro joins EasyRide program
Metro employees have
another transpor tation
option for battling high fuel
prices and traffic congestion.
Metro Nashville Government
has formed a partnership
with the Nashville MTA
in its successful EasyRide
p r o g r a m . N o w, c i t y
employees can ride MTA
buses to and from work
without charge.
“I can honestly say that
I have not been so excited
about any benefit like I
have the EasyRide program
for Metropolitan Nashville
Government employees,”
Metro employee Darlene
Carlton said. “This is a
fantastic incentive to increase
ridership. When I began
riding the Rivergate Express
in 1976, many passengers had
Mayor Karl Dean took the bus
to work to kick off the EasyRide
program.
to stand. It has again reached
that status. The Rivergate
Express route is definitely
a much needed service and
I appreciate the opportunity
(continued on page 3)
•
•
•
•
Perforated metal panels in place;
Concrete pre-cast exterior skin
completed;
Limestone cladding, architecturally
consistent with surrounding
buildings, forming exterior skin at
street level;
Exterior glass being installed for
climate-controlled waiting areas.
The MTA communications staff
is planning several MCC activities for
employees, supporters, and the public
leading up to the October grand opening.
A MCC jingle contest began in
August and is open to anyone ages 15 or
older who live in Davidson County or the
surrounding counties. Each entry must
be an original, 60-second jingle in any
genre about all of the things that make
public transportation a smart choice. The
winner will receive a cash prize, special
(continued on page 2)
MTA wins FTA MegaSTAR Award
“ Usi ng t r a n sit g ive s
The Nashville MTA has
earned recognition from the employers and employees a
as well as an
Federal Transit Administration tax savings
alternative
(FTA) for its innovative method affordable
of promoting ridership by
establishing partnerships
with employers, educational
institutions and other entities
through its EasyRide commuter
benefits program.
In late May, MTA received
the FTA Region IV MegaSTAR
Award at a ceremony held in
Atlanta, Ga. The Southeast
Tr a n s i t A c h i eve m e n t s
and Recognition (STAR)
awards are given annually
to recognize successful
initiatives that resulted in
significant contributions
and excellence in public
t r a n s p o r t a t io n . T h e
MegaSTAR Award is
MegaSTAR
for the Transit Model
Award
(continued on page 3)
of Excellence.
A Newsletter for Employees and Special Friends of the MTA of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
MCC
(continued from cover)
MTA Board Chair Gail Carr Williams, Mayor Karl Dean, MTA
CEO Paul J. Ballard, board member Thomas F. O’Connell,
board member Marian Ott, MTA Board Vice Chair William
Barnes and board member Lewis Lavine recently toured
Music City Central.
Aerial view of Music City Central, which is located at 400 Charlotte Ave.
recognition and have an opportunity to C o n s t r u c t i o n , c o r p o r a t e
perform at the grand opening.
sponsor for the contest.)
Key entertainers and music executives,
Other
promotions
including those who work on Music include a MCC scratch-off
Row, have agreed to judge the jingle game for customers and live In keeping with the musical theme, drumsticks have been
installed on the plaza.
contest. The talented panel includes: music on the Downtown
facility within the Central Business
Kirk Whalum (Grammy-nominated Transit Mall leading up to
musician); Beverly
the Grand Opening District (CBD) of Nashville.
Keel
(Tennessean
in October and on
TRAL
the MUSIC CIT Y CEN
columnist);
Tim
the MCC Plaza the
Fink (Vice President
Wr it er/ P ubl isher
Jingle Contest
Relations
for
SESAC, Inc.); Paul
Kwa m i
( Musica l
Director for Fisk
Ju b i l e e Si n g e r s);
Wo o d y
Wo o d
and Jim Chandler
(Woody
&
Jim,
Green screens have been installed
to the exterior of the building.
107.5 The River);
Three
One
Escalators connecting the 4th
Two
!
IT
ar
IT!
Karen Leipziger
he
W RITE
Avenue level to the 5th Avenue
se nd IT!
The state-of-the-art building
( K BA
Aw a r d level are now in place.
will serve as the central hub for
RULES
Winning Publicist);
Deen
Entsminger
first week following MTA buses, and will feature climatecontrolled waiting areas, an information
(Belmont University
the grand opening.
music professor and bus rider); Thomas
When finished, MCC will be a multi- and ticket sales center and possible
F. “Freddie” O’Connell (MTA Board level indoor facility. It will replace the retail businesses such as a donut shop
member); and Otho Webster (Division outdoor transit mall on Deaderick Street or newsstand. It is expected to serve up
Vice
President
Balfour
Beatty and will create a centralized transit to 20,000 passengers each weekday.
ts
Nashville MTA presen
BIG GIG
Nashville MTA’s brand-new Music City Central Transit
Station will open its doors downtown in October, and we
want to introduce it Nashville style — by putting it to
music. Send us your original 60-second jingle in any genre
about all of the reasons to choose public transportation.
nal, 60-second
Create an origi
ting the Music
jingle promo
and public
City Central
transportation.
your jingle
Submit a CD of
and
between August 1
Septem ber 15, 2008.
a panel of
be chosen by
One jingle will
experts. The
and industry
celebrity judges
cash prize
receive a $1,500
winner will
Construction
Balfour Beatty
courtesy of
the Music City
to perform at
and a chance
Opening.!
Central Grand
CORPORATE SPONSOR:
Visit www.nashvillemta.org/jinglecontest for Official Rules.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. “MTA’s Music City Central – The Big Gig Jingle Contest” is open to legal U.S. residents, who are at least 15 years of age as of
8/1/08 or older, and reside in the Nashville MSA (Davidson, Robertson, Sumner, Macon, Trousdale, Smith, Wilson, Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson, Hickman, Dickson,
and Cheatham counties). To view the Official Rules, which govern the Contest, visit www.nashvillemta.org/jinglecontest. Contest begins 12:01 AM Central Daylight
Time (“CDT”) 8/1/08 and ends 11:59PM (“CDT”) 9/15/08. Sponsors: Nashville MTA; Corporate Sponsor: Balfour Beatty Construction. Void where prohibited.
page 2
Metro
(continued from cover)
Mayor Karl Dean speaks to the
media following his bus ride
to work.
to be a participant in the
EasyRide program.”
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
is taking part as well. He rode
the bus to work on July 16
to officially kick off Metro’s
participation in the program
and is encouraging Metro
employees to participate.
“Considering the rising
cost of fuel, I believe now
more than ever people
are looking for alternative
ways to commute to work.
The record MTA ridership
for the last fiscal year
certainly speaks to that
demand,” Dean said. “I am
proud that we were able
to offer this service to Metro
employees during a tight fiscal
year. We will continue to work
hard in the coming years to
Award
enhance transportation options
in Nashville.”
Approximately 800 Metro
employees initially signed up for
the program with others coming
on board daily. Initial funding
of Metro’s participation in the
program was recommended
by the mayor and approved by
the Metro Council in the fiscal
year 2009 budget.
Metro joins others such
as Vanderbilt University and
Medical Center, Belmont
University, the State of
Tennessee, Bass Berry &
Sims, LP Building Products,
the U.S. Corps of Engineers,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S.
Probation Dept., and area
hotels such as Holiday Inn
Select Vanderbilt, Renaissance
Hotel, Hilton Hotel and
Hampton Inn.
These organizations pay
for their employees, and in
some cases students, to ride
MTA buses to and from work
and school.
(continued from cover)
to record-high gas prices
a nd c om mut i ng,” M TA
Chief Executive Officer Paul
J. Ballard said. “We were
extremely pleased to receive
this special recognition from
FTA for our success
in
increasing
ridership.”
EasyR ide is
designed to help
employers of all
sizes incorporate
c o m m u t e r
benefits into their
benefits plan. The
result of these
partnerships has
impacted MTA
r i d e r s h i p. M o r e
than 8 million passenger trips
were recorded in 2006, up from
almost 7 million the previous
ye a r. N e a rly 8 . 5 m i l l io n
passenger trips were recorded
in fiscal year 2007, and 9.4
million in the fiscal year 2008.
A partial list of employers,
educational institutions, and
agencies participating in the
MTA EasyRide program
include the following: Metro
Na shv i l le gover n ment ,
which came on board in July;
Vanderbilt University and
Medical Center; Belmont
University; the State of
Tennessee; Bass Berry &
Sims; LP Building Products;
First Tennessee Bank; the
U.S. Corps of Engineers;
U.S. Bankruptcy Court; U.S.
MegaSTAR Award certificate
Probation Dept.; Greater
Nashville Regional Council;
and several area hotels
such as Holiday Inn Select
Va n d e r b i lt , Re n a i s s a n c e
Hotel, Hilton Hotel and
Hampton Inn.
F TA-f u n d e d p u bl i c
transportation providers in
the southeast region include
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
New Federal Transit Administration rules end End-Zone Express
MTA’s End-Zone Express to Tennessee
Titans games has been halted due to
a new Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) ruling.
In April, the FTA, which provides
federal funds to public transit agencies,
significantly changed its regulations
regarding charter services (49 CFR Part
604), and these changes are impacting
transit systems across the nation.
Public transportation agencies can no
longer provide shuttles to football games,
baseball games, hockey or other special
events such as the Kentucky Derby. If a
transit system violates the new rules, it
could lose its federal funding.
“After carefully reviewing the new
rules, it is clear we can not operate this
service,” MTA Director of Planning Jim
McAteer said.
number of MTA’s local routes travel near
LP Field as they leave downtown.
Specifically, the routes are:
4 Shelby and 26 Gallatin Road.
Since the Woodland Street
Bridge is closed on game day
due to traffic detours, the buses
on these routes will travel from
the Downtown Transit Mall
(Deaderick Street between 4th
and 5th Avenues North) via James
Robertson Parkway across the
Victory Memorial Bridge to Main
Street in East Nashville.
Thousands of fans rode MTA End-Zone Express
Fans
riding these buses can exit
buses to games last season.
at Interstate Drive near the Gerst
Even though MTA is not running direct House and then walk the short distance
service to the games, several buses on a to the stadium.
page 3
Riley hired as new Training Manager
Melissa
Riley
has been hired as
Training Manager
for the Davidson
Transit Organization
(DTO). She began
work in July and is
responsible for the
Melissa Riley
t r a i n i ng of bus
operators as well as
maintenance and administrative employees.
Prior to joining DTO, Riley spent three
years as the planning officer for Wilson
County Emergency Management where
she wrote the disaster plans for the county.
She also worked in fire and EMS while
there and has worked in that field for the
past 16 years.
“I enjoy the interaction with people,”
Riley said of her new job. “I learn something
every time I teach, so it makes me a better
person, too.”
Riley holds a Masters degree in
Aerospace from Middle Tennessee State
University and a PhD in Education from the
University of Mississippi. A transportation
enthusiast, Riley is a trained flight instructor
and has been flying since 1995.
She is currently researching the needs
of all DTO departments and is trying to
find ways to not only fulfill but exceed staff
members’ expectations.
“Right now I’m just trying
to see how things have
been done and get
ideas,” Riley said. “I
want to offer a lot more
variances on learning
so that employees can
have either in-person,
online, or hands-on training. They
can select the way that works best for
them and excel at it instead of being forced
to learn only a certain way.”
In addition to her flying, Riley serves on
several disaster teams including the disaster
animal response team, which helps save
animals following disasters, such as the
February tornados. She also is the leader for
the search and rescue K-9 team in Wilson
County, which trains dogs to find people.
Riley began instruction with her first
class of incoming bus operators on Aug. 6.
“Our greatest
challenge right now
is not only filling the
drivers’ positions
but having enough
in reserve,” Riley
said. “If someone
is sick or resigns,
we want to
immediately fill
that spot instead of having a
several month gap where it is putting more
stress on the other operators.”
News & Notes
Collins recognized
Ed L. Collins
recently completed
20 years of service
on the MTA board.
The MTA board
and senior staff
honored him at a
recent luncheon and
Ed Collins
presented the
longtime member with a plaque recognizing
his 20 years of dedicated service.
Ridership
The Nashville MTA reached another
milestone in ridership by providing the
local community with 9.4 million trips
last fiscal year. This is nearly an 11 percent
increase over the previous fiscal period
and almost 1 million additional trips
when compared to the previous year.
Ridership has increased steadily over
the past several years and continues to
grow. Average ridership has jumped from
30,000 trips per weekday to 32,000.
If the current growth trends continue,
a projected 10 million trips may be logged
this year.
page 4
July changes
The second quarter of 2008 was
exceptionally busy for MTA this year
with public hearings, a second fare
increase and service reductions due to a
budget shortfall.
To avoid more severe service cuts in
July, the MTA board of directors approved
a 25-cent increase in the basic cash fare
and a 50-cent increase in the AccessRide
cash fare and the reduction of routes.
In June, the Metro Council passed
the new Metro operating budget, which
included an additional $800,000 for
MTA. The extra funds allowed MTA
to continue to fully operate AccessRide,
run the 8th Avenue South bus route “as
is” and save routes 30 McFerrin and 37X
Tusculum/McMurray Express, which
were both on the list of seven scheduled
to be eliminated July 1.
Both the Mayor and the Council
shifted funds from their offices to MTA
in the substitute budget to keep as many
bus routes intact as possible.
Great Commuter Race
Another Great Commuter Race
took place in May to highlight
Participants in the Great Commuter Race
gathered after the event.
t ra nspor t at ion a lter nat ives for
Nashvillians and to show how
comparable in time these options are
to driving.
Participants in the event included
a bus rider, two train riders, three
car drivers and five bicyclists. They
left Donelson Plaza with the Metro
Courthouse as their final destination.
Former Metro Councilman Phil
Ponder, who drove to work via
Lebanon Road, beat the top bicyclist
by six minutes. MTA’s contestant in
the competition, Clean Air Partnership
Board Chair Laura Artates, was unable
to compete at the last minute because
there was no more room on the bike
rack for her bike.
Several television stations and
local newspapers covered the event.
Staff Promotions
Employee
Storm O’Keefe
Elaine Bass
L’Tonya Bolden
James Chapple
Prince Birikurang
Anthony Leonard
Angelo Carruthers
Lisa Foster
Patrick Green
David Shuman
John McElhiney
Mary Weaver
Mike Williams
Robert Meeks
Damir Besic
Tiffany Buckley
Position
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator to Customer Care Representative
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator to Operations Supervisor
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator
From Part-time to Full-time Customer Care Representative
Date
11/11/07
12/14/07
12/17/07
12/17/07
1/30/08
1/30/08
2/10/08
3/5/08
3/9/08
4/6/08
4/6/08
4/6/08
4/6/08
5/11/08
5/11/08
6/30/08
New Employees
As the MTA continues to grow, we would like to welcome our new employees.
Employee
Position
Kathey Sherrell
Part-time Customer Care Representative
George Gray
Coach
Donald Buchanan General Helper
Carolyn Broussard Part-time Customer Care Representative
Melissa Riley
Training Manager
Date
1/18/08
2/22/08
3/10/08
3/17/08
7/1/08
Gone Fishing: MTA Retirees
The following employees have recently retired from the MTA. They are going to be missed,
and we would like to extend them our best wishes.
Employee
Clark Smith
Richard Wade
Carolyn Broussard
Position
Vehicle Operator (32 years of service)
Vehicle Operator (29 years of service)
Administrative Assistant – Advertising Sales/
Customer Care Representative (7½ years of service)
Students head back to school with Quest
Many Metro Nashville–
Davidson County students
rely on Nashville MTA buses
to get to and from school and
once again MTA welcomed
them back onboard. Last
school year, approximately
2,000 students, including
magnet school students, rode
MTA buses each school day.
Since MTA buses travel past
most area schools, students
have a reliable way to get
to class and to and from
afterschool activities.
Date
2/1/08
2/1/08
3/1/08
The communications staff
recently updated its Quest Youth
Bus Service brochure – a readerfriendly guide that explains how
to plan a school bus trip. It is
available at MTA displays around
town and on the MTA Web site at
www.nashvillemta.org.
MTA representatives participated
in several orientations at Nashvillearea schools and also distributed
the Quest brochure and other backto-school items at the 9th Annual
Mayor’s First Day Festival in August
at the Sommet Center.
Kudos ...
David Imlay, Richard Kiefer
and Sam Madzia passed
Automotive Service Excellence
(ASE) tests in May. The three
passed the following tests:
Imlay, Diesel engine (H2) and
the steering and suspension
(H5); Kiefer, HVAC (H7);
and Madzia, Diesel engine
test (H2). With these new
certifications, MTA now has
20 ASE Certifications.
From one of our customers
r e g a r d i n g M T A’ s F T A
MegaSTAR Award:
I am proud of MTA and its
services. I ride the buses and
have for the past 11 years.
Let us march forward and
make MTA one of the best in
our country. Thanks.
– Bipin Butala
I received the lowest number
of complaints that I ever have
regarding the movement of
service. There were numerous
compliments from passengers
about being properly informed
in advance about the (July)
change in service either by
the media, operators or
posted information.
– Supervisor Bernard
Merrell
Comments on Tennessean.com
regarding End-Zone Express:
“I really wish this service
wouldn’t have to end. My
husband and I take the bus any
time there is a game because
it’s less stressful than having to
fight through the traffic. Plus,
we’ll miss talking to the fans on
the trip because that was one
of the things that we enjoyed
as much as convenience. MTA
was not as expensive and was
a joyful experience. You will be
missed on Game Day!”
– Snookie802
I have been riding the Bus
from Greer Stadium for 8 or
9 years. It was always better
than fighting the traffic. What
an asinine government policy!
– Beast 23
page 5
Local Boy Scouts build bus shelter at Elmington Park
Positioned near the corner of
West End Avenue and Elmington
Avenue, the location provides
access to people with disabilities
and also creates a natural entrance
into the park. It serves both park
visitors as well as provides shelter
in inclement weather for MTA
riders.
“I really believe young people
can create a positive change in
their communities,” White said.
“And my belief is affirmed when
I see someone standing under the
shelter out of the rain.”
130 Nestor Street
Nashville, TN 37210-2124
Phone 615-862-5969
Fax 615-862-6208
ADA Inquiry and
Customer Care
862-5950
880-3286 (TTY)
Check our Web site at
www.nashvillemta.org
Karl Dean
Mayor
Board of Directors
Gail Carr Williams
Chair
William L. Barnes
Vice Chair
Lewis Lavine
Member
Thomas F. “Freddie”
O’Connell
Member
Marian T. Ott
Member
Paul J. Ballard
Chief Executive Officer
Newsletter Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief/Writer
Patricia Harris-Morehead
Boy Scouts Buck Sheesley and Jesse White built a bus shelter for their
Eagle Scout project.
A project more than 10 years
in the making finally came to
fruition through the hard work
and dedication of two local Boy
Scouts.
Buck Sheesley and Jesse White
teamed up on an Eagle Scout
project to create a bus shelter at
Elmington Park. The two planned,
designed and built the 12-foot by
13-foot structure over the course of
18 months. They saw their efforts
pay off with the completed shelter
dedicated to the community on
May 4.
Managing Editor/Writer
Wendy Smith
Graphic Designer
White | Thompson
Other scouts, parents and
volunteers as well as community
partners supported Sheesley
and White throughout the
entire process.
The project
was coordinated with the local
neighborhood associations, MTA,
Metro Parks, Metro Historical
Commission and the Boy Scouts
of America. It is owned by Metro
Parks.
“It was incredible because
we had so many people who had
worked so hard on it, and to top
it off with my Eagle made it even
better,” said Sheesley of
Boy Scout Troop 87. “From
the painting to the timber,
it was all awesome.”
Editorial Assistance
Ellen Davis
Randall Dunn
Jim McAteer
Photography
Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc.
Randall Dunn
Patricia Harris-Morehead
Gary Layda
Kelly Morley
If you have suggestions for future
articles, please submit them to
the MTA communications office.
NASHVILLE
MTA/DTO IS A
DRUG-FREE
WORKPLACE
page 6
“I live in a neighborhood next
to the park, and I remember playing
there as a child and learning to ride
a bike with my dad, so the project
seemed like the perfect way to give
back to the community and add to
the family-friendly environment
of the neighborhood,” said White
of Boy Scout Troop 92.
The shelter is a 12-foot by 13-foot structure at the corner of West End
Avenue and Elmington Avenue in Elmington Park.