THE ORIGIN AND ADVANCEMENT OF NASHVILLE'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

The feature provides an outline of the evolution of transportation in Nashville, Tennessee, from the 1770s through the onset of the 21st century. Middle Tennessee's history began with the foot traffic of the Native Americans. Nashville's transportation system evolved from essential foot trails to also include lucrative wagon trails and river corridors. The city's commercial trade continued to increase dramatically through the early 1800s, and by 1818, steamboats had arrived on the Cumberland River. In 1850, Nashville's transportation system embraced another dramatic change when a steamboat delivered the city's first steam engine for the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. As the 19th century drew to a close, Nashville's principal asset was its extensive rail system. During peace times of the early 20th century and the Great Depression, Union Station and the railroads continued to provide essential employment opportunities and essential transportation options that sustained the city's economic viability. Between 1960 and 1980, Nashville began experiencing modern suburbanization, or urban flight. For air travel, a new airport passenger terminal, which was more than five times larger than the previous terminal, was dedicated in 1987. Another trend that emerged in the 1990s was the reverse commute. With the continued strong growth of the region and the inability of the existing roadway infrastructure to easily accommodate the travel demands, residents and planners began to investigate alternative means of addressing today's traffic congestion. Transportation demand management programs for ridesharing and high-occupancy vehicle lanes appeared. Today, Nashville is a thriving regional metropolis in which the automobile rules.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/614107147
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Fischbach, G L
  • Jackson, P F
• Publication Date: 2000-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 24-33
• Serial:
  • ITE Journal
  • Volume: 70
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • ISSN: 0162-8178
  • Serial URL: https://www.ite.org/publications/ite-journal/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Automobile travel; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Highway capacity; History; Native Americans; Railroads; Reverse commuting; Ridesharing; Rivers; Steam engines; Steam locomotives; Steamships; Suburbs; Traffic congestion; Trails; Transportation; Travel demand management; Urban sprawl
• Geographic Terms: Nashville (Tennessee)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; History; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00790736
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 2000 12:00AM