opinion

Opinion | How the proposed transit plan will help Nashville's disabled population

Today probably started for you as any day usually does.

You woke up, you walked your dog. You had your coffee and breakfast, you watched the morning news. After rushing to make sure your children were out the door to school, you headed to your car and started the drive to work.

Now imagine if you were unable to drive.

How would you get to work or school? How would you visit friends or elderly family members? How would you get your children to the doctor if they were sick? How would you get to the grocery store to buy food so that you and your family can eat?

Unfortunately, that is a reality for many Nashvillians today. In Nashville, we have a meaningful and growing group of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, called IDD.

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These individuals have a wide range of medical conditions, ranging from autism to Down syndrome to a growing aging population with Alzheimer’s.

Most of these individuals are dependent on public transportation to take them to work, school or places of worship, all of which are crucial elements of living independently and being a vital part of their community.

Without a viable public transportation system, many of these people will not work, earn a paycheck and pay taxes, and therefore be a less integrated and contributing member of our Nashville community.

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Let’s Move Nashville is a bold plan to bring a comprehensive transportation plan to our great city. It contemplates big ideas like light rail and a downtown transit tunnel. But it also supports the basic blocking and tackling of any comprehensive transportation solution – improved and expanded bus service.

Let’s Move Nashville proposes expanded bus service along 10 key arteries, designed to move more Nashvillians to work, school, church and shopping. It proposes enhanced frequency – providing service as often as every 15 minutes for up to 20 hours per day. It also provides an upgraded transportation shelter system that will ensure safety and comfort for all its riders.

Transportation provides a key lifeline to help those with IDD live fuller and richer lives. And it helps the taxpayers by giving residents with IDD the ability to get to work, earn a paycheck, shop and live their lives to the fullest.

While you are navigating your morning commute today, I ask that you reflect on this. Nashville is a city that is known for its big heart and Southern hospitality.

With Let’s Move Nashville, we all have a chance to reach out to those of differing abilities and offer them a full life that reaches beyond the four walls of their homes.

Isn’t that the Nashville way?

Rob Harris is a native Nashvillian and a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis.