The Transportation Management Association held two meetings on Tuesday for the community to share input on their thoughts for Franklin’s traffic future.
The presentation included multiple ideas for bus routes, ride-sharing services, bike-sharing programs and mobile apps as steps for meeting the needs of connecting the Cool Springs area as traffic demands increase.
As the corporate headquarters for many businesses in Williamson County and the region traffic in the Cool Springs area is projected to increase greatly in the near future, especially with the construction of new mixed-use developments like Ovation and One Franklin Park, which will have many offices and many people. The TMA took on the transit study on behalf of the Franklin Transit Authority with the help of TranSystems to find the best options for the transportation future of the area.
Jobs in the study area are projected to more than double by 2040, and if all of the people working those jobs were on the road in single occupancy vehicles, traffic could become a real pain for those working and living around Cool Springs. The study suggests that multiple route options and the ability to see route information in mobile apps will make travel around the area easier as population grows.
“The key is that it’s not going to be just one magic bullet,” said Debbie Henry, Executive Director of the TMA. “It is going to be a combination of different components.”
The study will gather information from those that drive around the area, like how far work is from home, and what it would take to get those traveling to use alternative methods to transportation.
“It’s so important for us to hear from the community today. We want people to give us feedback, we will listen to what they say because it’s their voice, it’s their community, it’s their transit,” Henry said.
There is a survey for those who live and work around Cool Springs is available online or from Tuesday’s meeting. Surveys can be faxed to 312-276-4805 or sent to Ms. Gina Trimarco, TranSystems, 222S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606. To make a comment send an email to [email protected]. Comments also accepted by mail or in person at The TMA Group, 708 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064.
The TMA will be considering the input of the community for the next phases of the project.
