Page 26 - Jan/Feb 2023 Vol 40 No 6

NASHVILLE By Joe Martin
Meeting Human Needs Through GIS

The City of Nashville’s population for the Nashville Department of percent cheaper. Because of this, any
growth is driving infrastructure needs Transportation (NDOT) to update potential site had to be analyzed for its
throughout its metropolitan area. Many their WalkNBike plan. This document constructability.
people are moving to older areas of historically assessed the existing sidewalk The previous WalkNBike plan used
the city that have developer activity, and bikeway networks, considered other 13 factors when selecting locations for
commercial growth, and insufficient planning documents, and highlighted new sidewalk and bikeway projects.
access to recreation. areas of need for walking and biking. As These factors were overly complex
These factors heighten awareness this document was a short-term plan, and indicated deficient infrastructure
of neighborhoods that already lack NDOT determined that an essential on most streets in Davidson County.
infrastructure for residents to safely walk component was a project list that This process needed to be revised and
and bike. Sidewalks and bikeways clearly proposed sidewalk and bikeway projects simplified to improve site selection.
are a widespread need. How does a local with a planned location and timeline Simplifying Project Decisions
metropolitan government decide where to over the next three years. The intent was to identify and
allocate resources effectively and in areas When selecting project locations, prioritize critical improvements to
of critical need? NDOT was challenged with balancing the sidewalk and bikeway network.
These issues are not just city the requests of council members,
infrastructure problems; they are individual citizen requests, pedestrian The first step in this process included
garnering community engagement,
societal problems. What are the human and cycling incidents, and aging evaluating previous research, and
aspects to these issues? How can they be historical projects. NDOT needed an gathering professional input. From this,
incorporated into a technical solution? equitable and efficient process to identify, four factors were considered essential
How can Geographic Information Systems select, and commit to a three-year list of in prioritizing good locations to build
(GIS) drive efficiency in promoting projects for sidewalks and bikeways. sidewalks and bikeways: Safety, Transit,
community safety and accessibility? Additionally, NDOT was tasked by the Connectivity, and Equity.
Updating the WalkNBike Plan Nashville Mayor’s Office to implement GIS spatial datasets were utilized to
projects fifty percent faster and twenty
These issues were in part the catalyst translate NDOT’s directive into tools

26 TPW January/February 2023