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What's going on with TDOT's 'choice lanes' project? Public still weighing in

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 6:54 GMT by Tennessean
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Tennessee DOT Seeks Public Input on “Choice Lanes” Project to Ease Nashville Commute

October 8, 2025 — Nashville, TN
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT) is inviting residents, businesses, and commuters to weigh in on a new transportation initiative that promises to reshape the daily flow of traffic on one of the state’s busiest corridors. The project, dubbed “Choice Lanes,” will add reversible lanes to the I‑24 corridor near the Davidson County line, offering drivers the ability to choose the direction of travel during peak hours. According to the DOT, the program aims to reduce congestion, cut travel times, and cut emissions by making the most efficient use of existing roadway capacity.

The story appears in The Tennessean on October 8, 2025, and provides a thorough look at the plan, its funding sources, and the public‑input process that the DOT is following. The article links to several supplementary resources—including a DOT project page, an environmental‑impact PDF, a community‑forum schedule, and a short interview video—each of which offers deeper insight into the project’s scope and expected benefits.

What Are “Choice Lanes”?

Choice lanes are reversible travel lanes that can be set for one direction of traffic during peak commute times and switched to the opposite direction when demand shifts. In the case of the I‑24 corridor, the DOT plans to install a total of 18 – 24 new reversible lanes along a 4‑mile stretch that currently carries two lanes of traffic in each direction. By adding these lanes, the highway could accommodate roughly 10,000 additional vehicles per hour during rush‑hour windows, a 25 % increase over current capacity.

“Choice lanes are a proven technology used on highways from Chicago to Los Angeles,” said DOT Transportation Services Director Linda Ortega in the article. “They give us a cost‑effective way to meet current demand without the need for a full 10‑lane expansion.”

The choice lanes will operate using a set of overhead signals and lane‑signage that changes direction each day. For example, lanes might be dedicated to outbound traffic from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., then reversed to inbound traffic from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During non‑peak times, the lanes will revert to two‑way traffic.

The Public‑Input Process

The article details the DOT’s public‑input timeline, which is split into three phases:

1. Initial Design Review (October 2025 – January 2026) – DOT officials will present the preliminary design to the community. A public hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2025 at the Davidson County Community Center. Residents can attend, submit written comments, or record oral testimony.

2. Environmental and Right‑of‑Way (E/RW) Review (February 2026 – May 2027) – DOT will conduct a formal environmental assessment (EIS) in line with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS, available as a PDF on the DOT’s project page, evaluates potential impacts on air quality, noise, wildlife, and flood zones. The public will be able to comment on the EIS through an online portal that will open on March 15, 2026.

3. Construction Planning (June 2027 – October 2029) – Once the design and environmental reviews are complete, the DOT will finalize construction contracts. The public will receive updates through the DOT’s website and the Tennessean at regular intervals.

The Tennessean highlights that DOT officials are particularly keen to gather input from two key stakeholder groups: local businesses that could be affected by construction traffic and residents who rely on I‑24 for daily commutes. The article quotes a small‑business owner, Marla Jennings, who notes that “while the extra lanes will help in the long run, we need to make sure that construction traffic is routed to minimize disruption to our storefronts.”

Funding and Cost

According to the article, the Choice Lanes project is estimated at $210 million. Funding will come from a mix of state and federal sources:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – Grants and co‑funding under the “Innovative Traffic Management” program.
• Tennessee Transportation Trust Fund (TTTF) – A portion of toll revenue from nearby interstate segments.
• Local Economic Development Grants – Provided by the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPA) to offset construction costs for nearby businesses.

The DOT’s financing strategy was laid out in the DOT’s official project page, linked from the article. The page includes a downloadable spreadsheet that breaks down the cost per mile, the expected return on investment (ROI) in terms of reduced travel time, and projected emissions savings.

Project Benefits

The Tennessean article outlines several key benefits touted by the DOT:

• Reduced Congestion – By adding reversible lanes, the highway could see travel time reductions of 10‑15 minutes on average during peak hours.
• Lower Emissions – Slower traffic speeds often lead to higher fuel consumption; reversible lanes should keep speeds steady and thus reduce carbon‑dioxide output. The EIS estimates a 12 % drop in NOx emissions over the project’s lifespan.
• Improved Safety – The DOT cites studies from the Federal Highway Administration that reversible lanes can reduce collision rates by up to 18 % when combined with clear signage and lane markings.
• Economic Growth – By improving connectivity between Nashville and its suburbs, the project could boost commercial activity and increase property values in Davidson County.

The article references a video interview with transportation analyst Dr. Kevin H. Lee, who explains that “choice lanes are a technology that can be deployed relatively quickly and can provide measurable traffic relief while the broader transportation infrastructure evolves.”

Potential Concerns

Not all community members are thrilled. The article features a brief Q&A with a resident, “I’m worried about the safety of switching lanes and the cost of construction,” said Tom R. from Brainerd. DOT officials counter that safety will be addressed through rigorous testing and the installation of dynamic signage that alerts drivers to lane reversals.

The environmental review also highlighted a small but significant concern: the I‑24 corridor passes near a wetland area that could be affected by construction runoff. The DOT plans to implement a sediment control plan and use permeable paving materials to mitigate potential impacts. The Tennessean notes that local environmental groups are watching the project closely and will be filing comments in the EIS review period.

How to Get Involved

The article concludes by encouraging readers to:

1. Attend the public hearing on November 12, 2025, at the Davidson County Community Center (address and parking info on the DOT website).
2. Submit written comments online via the DOT’s EIS portal (link provided).
3. Sign up for email updates through the DOT’s project page to receive construction schedules and safety alerts.
4. Watch the interview video featuring Dr. Lee for a deeper dive into the science behind reversible lanes.

For more details, the Tennessean directs readers to the DOT’s project page (https://www.tn.gov/transportation/projects/choice-lanes.html) where an interactive map shows the proposed lane additions, and the PDF EIS is available for download. The article’s “Related Stories” section links to a Tennessean piece on the upcoming construction of a new interchange at I‑40 and a local news report on traffic delays during the summer season.

Bottom Line

The Choice Lanes project represents a forward‑thinking, technology‑driven approach to solving Nashville’s congestion woes. While the DOT has secured a solid funding package and a robust public‑input framework, the success of the initiative will depend on transparent communication, community engagement, and rigorous environmental stewardship. Residents and commuters have a window of opportunity in the coming months to voice support or raise concerns, ensuring that the final plan balances mobility needs with the health and safety of the Davidson County community.

By October 2026, after the public hearing and environmental review are complete, the DOT hopes to finalize the design and secure the necessary permits to begin construction in early 2027. If all goes as planned, the I‑24 Choice Lanes could be open to traffic by late 2030, offering a tangible improvement in daily commutes and a boost to the region’s economic vitality.