Convening the Region Summit2009 Key Issue: Regional Transit System Development

May 27th, 2009War Memorial AuditoriumNashville, TN

Summit Co-Hosts

•Cumberland Region Tomorrow•Nashville Area MPO•Tennessee Dept. of Transportation

Summit Event Sponsors•James Stephen Turner Family Foundation•Dye Van Mol & Lawrence•Prince Market Research•The Chestnut Group•Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations•Fregonese & Associates•Tennessee Public Transportation Assoc.

Summit Corporate Sponsors•The Rogers Group•Parsons Brinkerhoff•Gresham Smith Partners•Centric Architecture•Pinnacle Financial Partners•Kimley-Horn & Associates•James C. Hailey & Co.

Summit Partners

•AIA Middle Tennessee•Leadership Middle Tennessee•UT Institute of Public Service, MTAS & CTAS Divisions•Vanderbilt University•Tennessee Farm Bureau•Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County Planning Dept.

Summit Partners

•The Land Trust for Tennessee•Nashville Chamber – Partnership 2010•Greater Nashville Regional Council•Nashville MTA/RTA•AECE/TSPE of Tennessee•Transit Now Nashville

Summit Partners

•Nashville Civic Design Center•Tennessee Public Transportation Assoc.•WTS Nashville Chapter•Tennessee Chapter American Planning Assoc. (TAPA)•Tennessee Main Street Program of TDEC•Nashville Business Journal•Nashville Downtown Partnership

Research Purpose The overall purpose of this research project was to gather

information from government, business and community leaders on the following:

• How do people in the ten regional counties actually feel about regional collaboration?

• How important is it for Middle Tennessee communities and governments to work together?

• What are the most important things that would make a leader take a more active role in regional collaboration?

Research Methodology• Prince Market Research (PMR), an independent market research firm,

collaborated with CRT and DVL, a national public relations firm, to develop the questionnaire, which contained a total of 15 questions.

• PMR was responsible for creating an open online survey link. Once created, CRT embedded the online survey link into an email blast that was sent to a list of area leaders on Thursday, March 12, 2009. The survey was closed Monday, March 30, 2009. A total of 469 completed surveys were received. The sponsor of the research was revealed. No incentive was offered to participate.

• Each survey lasted about 5 minutes.

• The margin of error for the full sample (n=469) is +/-4.6%.

Overall Summary

Respondent Demographics

Nearly one-half of respondents work for a private company; 32% government, 11% non-profit.

Which of the following most accurately describes your occupational status?

Of those respondents who participated in the survey, one-half currently live in Davidson County.

In which Middle Tennessee County do you currently live?

Just 28% of respondents surveyed hold an Elected or Appointed position in Middle TN.

Do you currently hold an ELECTED or APPOINTED position with any Middle TN governmental agency, planning board, advisory board, etc.?

Over one-half of all respondents have lived in another city the size of Nashville or larger.

At any point in your adult life (ages 18 and up), have you lived in any other U.S. city the size of Nashville or larger?

Regional Collaboration

Regional Opportunities and Crises/Problems are the top 2 motivators for regional collaboration.

What would motivate you and the constituents you serve to encourage/ensure regional collaboration? Check all that apply.

Currently just 27% say regional collaboration is working, but 81% say it is a Very Important issue.

How would you rate our region’s current effectiveness in regional collaboration?

How important is it for Middle TN communities & governments to work together to address regional priorities & issues?

Over 2/3 of respondents say improving Transit Options is the most important focus for Middle TN.

Please rank order the importance of the following transportation strategies in terms of what the Nashville Region should focus on over the next 10 years?

Transportation & Other Infrastructure are the most important issues for Middle TN to focus on.

How important do you think each of the following issues are to the quality of life and economic vitality in our region over the next 10 years?

The greatest benefit of a regional transit system is Reduced Traffic Congestion.

What do you see as the benefits of investing in a Regional Transit System? Check all that apply.

8 of 10 respondents say Funding is the biggest barrier to making transit options available to all.

What are the barriers to making transit options available to citizens of the region? Check all that apply.

Nearly one-half of respondents say “Middle TN” is the best term to describe the 10-county region.

What title or term best describes our 10-county region?