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Planning Partners

Convening a Regional Forum

The Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC or Regional Council) was established by the TN General Assembly as an association of municipal and county governments empowered to convene local and state leaders for the purposes of planning and programming state and federal investments into a range of social services and public infrastructure. GNRC serves as the region’s federally-recognized Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD), and Economic Development District (EDD).


GNRC’s role in transportation planning is governed by its Transportation Policy Board which convenes local, state, and federal public officials to oversee the development of plans and programs for the Nashville metropolitan planning area.

Cooperative Transportation Decisions

The Transportation Policy Board, formerly called the MPO Executive Board, is empowered by federal law to serve as the primary forum for collaboration among local elected officials, public transit operators, TDOT, and other state and federal agencies in order to negotiate a mutually beneficial plan to invest in roadways, bridges, public transit, and other transportation facilities across the greater Nashville area.


The collaborative decision-making of the Transportation Policy Board membership is showcased every five years in the form of a regional transportation plan. The purpose of the plan is to direct the investment of public funds and other actions in a way that will provide for a safe and reliable transportation system, help local communities thrive over the long-term, and support the economic productivity of the region and State.

Public Transit Partners

WeGo Public Transit, formerly known as the Nashville MTA, provides transit service throughout Davidson County and oversees regional bus, commuter rail, and vanpool services on behalf of the Regional Transportation Authority.   The Franklin Transit Authority provides local bus/trolley service to residents in the Franklin and Cool Springs area.  The City of Murfreesboro Transportation Department provides local bus service, known as the Murfreesboro Rover.  The South Central Tennessee Development District operates the Mule Town Trolley in Columbia.

State and Federal Partners

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is the State agency responsible for managing, operating, and maintaining U.S. Interstates and the State route system. This includes oversight of the design and construction of transportation improvement projects for those roadways, as well as other federal-aid routes when requested to do so on behalf of local communities.

 
Within the context of planning, TDOT is responsible for the preparation of a statewide transportation plan; administration of a data collection program relative to transportation modes and needs; and cooperation with local governments of the GNRC Transportation Policy Board in the development of the metropolitan area transportation plan. 


The Regional Council also coordinates with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Health, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Department of Environment and Conservation. 

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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administers all federal-aid highway monies available for highway planning and implementation pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, United States Code.

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The FHWA Tennessee Division Office in Nashville is responsible for issuing regulations and guidelines relative to expenditure of Federal-aid highway monies in Tennessee; monitoring all highway planning, programming and implementation activities; and exercising fiscal control of all Federal-aid highway expenditures through an annual audit.

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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administers all federal-aid monies available through grant allocation for public transportation planning, capital improvement, demonstration and operations pursuant to the provisions of Title 49, United States Code.

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The FTA Region IV Office in Atlanta is responsible for issuing federal transit regulations and guidelines for use by grant recipient agencies and public transportation agencies, monitoring public transportation planning and demonstration projects, and exercising fiscal controls.

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Non-Profits and Community Advocates

GNRC has an ongoing partnership with several non-profit organizations that help connect additional stakeholders and community groups to the planning process.

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  • ​Conexion Americas

  • Council on Aging

  • Cumberland Region Tomorrow

  • Cumberland River Compact

  • Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce

  • Forward Sumner

  • Franklin Tomorrow

  • Greater Nashville Association of Realtors

  • Leadership Tennessee

  • Lebanon Wilson Chamber of Commerce

  • Maury Alliance

  • Moving Forward Transportation Initiative

  • Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

  • Nashville Civic Design Center

  • Partnership 2030

  • Robertson County Chamber of Commerce

  • Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

  • Tennessee Transportation Coalition

  • The Downtown Partnership

  • The TMA Group

  • The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee

  • ULI Nashville

  • Urban Green Lab

  • Walk Bike Nashville

  • Williamson County Association of Realtors

  • Williamson, Inc.

  • Among others
     

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