What is the status of Traffic Calming efforts in Sylvan Park?

Elkins Avenue:

Elkins Avenue, between 42nd and 54th, was selected by NDOT for a traffic calming study last fall.  The first community meeting for this study was held on November 28, 2022. A second community meeting to discuss traffic along Elkins Avenue was held on March 15, 2023. A recording of this meeting can be found using the following link:

Link to Elkins Traffic Meeting 3-15-2023

At their March 15th meeting, NDOT proposed the addition of two sets of speed cushions on Elkins Avenue, at approximately 4302 Elkins and approximately 4412 Elkins. The NDOT proposal was balloted upon, and the proposal passed (with 86% in favor and 14% opposed). NDOT will proceed with ordering materials for Elkins Avenue and scheduling installation. We should expect to see installation happen on Elkins Avenue by early 2024.

For further questions about the overall NDOT Traffic Calming program, please contact NDOTTrafficCalming@nashville.gov or see the website http://trafficcalming.nashville.gov.

37th Avenue N:

The addition of speed cushions along 37th Avenue N was approved through the petition process in late summer 2022. These speed cushions were INSTALLED in March of 2023.

42nd Ave N / 44th Ave N / Nebraska Avenue:

Based on the voting that was conducted in September/October of 2022, 2 of the 3 traffic calming proposals for the Sylvan Park East traffic calming project passed: Nebraska Avenue and 42nd Ave N. 86% of Nebraska Avenue homeowners voted in favor of the proposed traffic calming measures. 69% of 42nd Ave N homeowners voted in favor of the proposed measures.

AS OF 7/10/2023: The speed cushions on Nebraska and 42nd Ave N and the striping on 42nd Ave N were INSTALLED in June of 2023. We are awaiting the installation of planters at the intersection of 42nd Ave N and Nebraska.

The ballot for the 44th Ave N proposal failed (only 60% of homeowners voted in favor of the proposal, which did not exceed the required threshold of 67% of respondents in favor) so speed cushions will not be installed on 44th Avenue N.  The NDOT team is currently looking further at other measures that could be considered for 44th Ave N, and will let us know if they have any recommendations.  (No further meetings/balloting for this street are being considered for 44th Ave N at this time.)

As a reminder, the proposals for Nebraska/42nd/44th that were balloted upon included:

• Speed cushions and delineators (adjacent to the speed cushions, to prevent traffic from driving around the cushions) on each street

• Striping added to 42nd Avenue N to distinguish multi-use parking/pedestrian/biking shoulders from the driving area

• Bulb-outs with planters added at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and 42nd Avenue N

It is worth noting that the ballot response rates in Sylvan Park (Nebraska: 50% responded; 42nd Ave: 48% responded; 44th Ave: 30% responded) were higher than the average rate NDOT has seen in their other 23 Davidson County ballots (28% response rate, on average).

Illustrations: Illustrations of each proposal are posted below.

Plan for Ballot - 37th Ave N

Plan for Ballot - Nebraska, 42nd, 44th

Additional Background:
In the winter of 2021, two Sylvan Park applications were accepted into the Metro Traffic Calming program. The traffic calming applications that were accepted into the program included the following streets:

• Nebraska Avenue, between 37th Avenue and 46th Avenue; a review of Nebraska between 46th Avenue and 51st Avenue is also being conducted

• 37th Avenue North, between Murphy Road and the railroad underpass

• 42nd Avenue North, between Charlotte Avenue and Murphy Road

• 44th Avenue North, between Charlotte Avenue and Murphy Road

On February 21, 2022, the Metro Department of Transportation and traffic engineers from the planning and design firm Kimley-Horn summarized available traffic calming options. They also took questions from those in the meeting. About 40 Sylvan Park neighbors attended the meeting. Following the meeting, additional input was collected from Sylvan Park neighbors and further observation of the streets above was conducted.

On June 16, 2022, a second traffic calming community meeting was held at the McCabe Park Community Center. About 35 Sylvan Park neighbors attended, either in person or virtually. Additional neighbor input was gathered following the meeting.

On August 10, 2022, a third traffic calming community meeting was held at the McCabe Park Community Center. About 40 Sylvan Park neighbors attended, either in person or virtually. Additional neighbor input was gathered following the meeting.

NDOT introduced some changes to the traffic calming petition process that will apply to the balloting for the proposed changes to Nebraska, 42nd and 44th. The new voting process will involve NDOT sending information directly to property owners on the affected streets (rather than our SPNA team going door-to-door to collect signatures). More information on the new balloting process can be found on page 5 of the following document: NDOT Traffic Calming Manual

For more information, please contact spna@sylvanpark.org or submit questions/suggestions through our Traffic Feedback Form.