Council Orders Greenway Safety Audit Before Next Budget Cycle

Nashville Metro Council members voted this week to mandate a new safety study for the city's greenway network. The action directs Metro Parks to collaborate with the Nashville Department of Transportation to identify and analyze hazardous crosswalks.

The initiative is designed to produce the city's first comprehensive safety plan for these trails. Council members cited several recent deaths on greenways and crosswalks as the primary reason for the new measures. The audit will determine specific infrastructure needs before funds are allocated.

Council member Jacob Kupin described the strategy as a two-pronged approach. He stated that if quick fixes are available, the city should implement them immediately. However, he emphasized the need for a complete inventory of safety requirements before deciding how to fund them. Kupin said, “It’s kind of a two-pronged approach. If there are easy, quick fixes, let’s go just do those.” He added, “To me, before you can execute and figure out where you get the money from, we need to know, ‘What do these even need to be safe?’”

Residents who regularly use the greenways told reporters they currently must pay extra attention to avoid traffic hazards. The council has set a deadline for the report's submission. The final document is due by April 1, 2027. This timeline allows the findings to be evaluated during the budget process for the following fiscal year.

The partnership between Metro Parks and NDOT will focus on data collection and risk assessment. The study aims to prioritize locations where pedestrians face the highest danger. No specific cost for the study was mentioned in the approval documents.