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may bring. The participants gathered The Problem Statements –
in breakout groups to examine their Different Cities, but Similar Issues
pre-identified problem statements – an
issue or problem participants wanted to The following problem statements identified by the participating cities shared
brainstorm – with a broader stakeholder many similar concerns, which led to meaningful discussions among the entire
group, including subject-matter experts group.
(present at the meeting). For example, Cookeville/Putnam County: How do we maintain resiliency in our multimodal
the City of Nashville’s problem statement transportation network as we become a more urbanized area? What are best
explored how transit agencies could strategies to maintain and improve our transit system? How can we better capture
provide quality service to low-income economic development opportunities from a recently completed Tennessee
and transit-dependent populations and Heritage Rail Trail project?
geographies while making the most Chattanooga: How can we as a local agency provide equity in meaningful project
efficient use of taxpayer resources. programming and delivery for social good, health, economic growth, resiliency
and sustainability.
With the goal of these discussions Memphis/Shelby County: How can Shelby County and its communities create
centered around transportation and traffic and transportation solutions, proactive policies, or design guidelines that
resilience, the groups set key objectives: will minimize the negative impact of disaster-related incidents and maximize local
resources and agency cooperation during such events, to ensure that transportation
• Understanding mobility and needs are met during the event and the subsequent recovery effort?
resiliency issues facing Tennessee
percent college graduation rate. The opportunity to get together with
• Networking – discover common number two reason listed for this was colleagues from around the state and
ground limited or no access to transportation.” think outside the box with practitioners
that do the type of work we do. We
• Sharing ideas – expand possibilities It Takes a Village can look at our challenges and borrow
• Focus on short- and long-term ideas from other cities and circle up
What are some of Tennessee’s early among our own agencies – public works,
thinking takeaways? A resilient city is one that transportation, city planning – to look
• Walk away with actionable ideas demands engagement from a region’s at these complex problems and outline
This forum brought together a range brightest minds – from a multitude of a plan and approach that would deliver
of voices, including resilience officers, industries. It takes a village to ensure more innovative solutions.”
chief elected officials, city planners, state that “disruptions” are being planned for
transportation agencies, academia, and appropriately, with smart policy, and Next Steps?
technical consultants from across the group buy-in so that these disruptions
state. Erin Hafkenschiel, Director of the have little to no impact on the community. A follow-up to Design Spark was held
Nashville Mayor’s Office of Transportation It’s about providing an opportunity at the TennSMART Spring Member
and Sustainability helped set the tone, for various stakeholders to have larger Meeting on May 17, and included
saying, “It’s important to have these discussions about resiliency and apply representatives from cities and other
larger conversations about technology them across a region or state rather than organizations that weren’t at the initial
and making infrastructure investments across one jurisdiction. Design Spark meeting. TennSMART is
in the community. Not having access to a nonprofit consortium established to
transportation is negatively impacting According to Nashville’s Erik
residents in Davidson County – it ranks Cole, “The Design Spark was a great Continued on page 14
93rd in the country in cities offering
workers accessible transportation. We
know that not having access is preventing
people from getting and keeping jobs
– and it’s also preventing them from
completing higher education. Another
statistic shows Nashville having a 24
View online at tnpublicworks.com 13
