Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

TDOT has
initiated a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study to establish a vision for the Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors (DNIC) that addresses congestion and enhances connectivity within the larger interstate network.

The purpose of the PEL Study is to identify alternatives that provide more reliable travel times and enhance regional
connectivity for commuters, including those commuting via passenger vehicles and transit, for the interstate network leading into and surrounding Downtown Nashville.

TDOT intends to adopt planning products and recommendations made as part of the PEL Study into future NEPA studies, per Title 23 of the US Code, Part 168.

The Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors (DNIC) PEL Study includes 20 miles of interstate segments:

  • I-65, I-24 and I-40 – the “Inner Loop” in Downtown Nashville
  • I-65, from SR 155 (Thompson Lane) to the Inner Loop
  • I-440, from I-65 to I-24/I-40
  • I-24, from Inner Loop to I-65 interchange (north of Downtown Nashville)
  • I-40, from the Inner Loop to Elm Hill Pike (East of BNA Airport)[KT1]
PEL map2

 

The PEL Study will:

  • Identify and analyze the overall transportation concerns.
  • Develop the Purpose and Need for the study.
  • Create a master plan that recommends potential future projects that could provide more reliable travel times and enhance connectivity.
  • Provide preliminary environmental analysis, cost estimates and recommended project scopes for the identified congestion relief solutions that could transition into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for further analysis once projects receive funding.
  • Initiate coordination with local, state and Federal agencies.

Public Involvement and Engagement

TDOT will host an in-person Public Information Meeting in early 2025 to seek input on the proposed improvement alternatives and to answer any questions regarding the PEL Study. Stay tuned for updates.

See what community members had to say about the PEL Study objectives and Draft Purpose and Need statement during our first Virtual Public Engagement event held in April 2024. A summary of the survey data and responses to the feedback received can be found here. Please note that the initial (PEL) Study materials published in April 2024 included the early development of the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Project.  Since then, the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project has been removed from the PEL study and continues through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)  process as a Public Private Partnership (P3) project. 

See what community members had to say about the PEL Study objectives and Draft Purpose and Need statement during our first Virtual Public Engagement event in April. A summary of the survey data and responses to the feedback received can be found here.

You can also review the PEL Study Fact Sheet here. It was provided during that public engagement effort.

Virtual Public Engagement Resources

PEL Study Area - April Virtual Engagement Event

Contacts

Please email us to get on our mailing list at TDOT.BuildWithUs@tn.gov.

You can also call the PEL Study hotline at (615) 451-8039 to leave a voice comment or question. The hotline is monitored regularly, and calls are acknowledged within 24 business hours. TDOT welcomes questions and comments regarding the PEL Study.

FAQs

Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) is a collaborative approach to transportation decision-making that considers benefits and impacts of proposed transportation system improvements to the environment, community and economy during the early transportation planning process. The primary goal of the PEL Study is to gather information and input early in planning to inform the environmental review process and meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

TDOT will be initiating a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study to identify and analyze transportation concerns and create a master plan that recommends potential future projects that could provide congestion relief. The PEL Study will deliver preliminary environmental analysis, cost estimates and recommended project scopes for the identified congestion relief solutions that could transition into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project development phase for further analysis once projects receive funding.

  • Combines planning, engineering and NEPA to streamline the project development process
  • Encourages early and meaningful public engagement
  • Assists in the early identification of issues and potential constraints, reduces risks and concerns and leads to better environmental outcomes

TDOT will continue to engage the public, including residents, commuters and local businesses in the Study area, and state and federal agencies throughout the PEL Study. The feedback gathered through engagement events and surveys will inform TDOT early in the decision-making process.

TDOT will conduct meaningful public outreach and effectively communicate with stakeholders and the public throughout the Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors PEL Study.

The first public engagement opportunity was a virtual event from April 1 to 30, 2024, where TDOT presented existing and projected transportation issues. The public submitted official public comments and shared their experience and concerns with the Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors. A PEL Public Information Meeting will also take place later in 2024 to seek input on the improvement alternatives and alternatives screening process. Stay tuned for updates.

Comments received during the first open comment period (April 1 to 30, 2024) via survey, email, mail or hotline at (615) 451-8039 were recorded as official public comments and included in the final PEL Study report.

It is important to note that while TDOT is monitoring comments made through social media, these are not considered official public comments.

This Virtual Public Engagement Event hosted nearly 5,000 visitors. 388 visitors completed the DNIC PEL Study survey with 14 survey questions and four open-ended questions. TDOT developed a summary of the survey data and responses to the open-ended comments. The summary is available here. Comments have been organized into broad topics and in each section, individual comment themes are presented in italics followed by the response to each comment.