WeGo Public Transit is a public transportation agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Consisting of city buses and paratransit, the system serves Nashville and Davidson County. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 8,163,200, or about 28,300 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025. For 2023, WeGo expected to collect $5.2 million in fare revenue and spend $99.3 million in operation. To make up most of the difference, WeGo expected to collect subsidies from the city, state, and national governments.[3]
WeGo partnered with the Metro Arts Commission, which commissioned six artist-designed transit shelters are placed along the new 28th/31st Avenue Bridge.[4][5]
History
The first public transportation in Nashville began in 1860 when the McGavock and Mt. Vernon Horse Railroad Company and the South Nashville Street Railroad Company were joined to create a public transportation system using steam and mules to power rail cars. The first electric streetcar in Nashville came in 1889.[6] Over the years, several different companies offered transit in Nashville. The first buses came in 1926, as a complement to the preceding rail lines.[6] In 1930, Tennessee Electric Power Company took over the transit system and phased out streetcars by February 1941.[7] In 1953, the company was reorganized and changed its name to Nashville Transit Company. The next 20 years saw the decline of public transportation in Nashville and the rise of the automobile.[8] This led to higher fares and service cutbacks for the transit system. In order to keep public transportation in the city viable, Metro-Nashville government purchased the Nashville Transit Company and created the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1973.[9]
Due to a major flood in May 2010, the MTA suffered losses to their fleet and their maintenance/administration offices. The total losses amounted to 39 buses and 39 paratransit vans,[10] various other support vehicles and severe damage caused to both the maintenance/administration offices and to the Riverfront Music City Star (now known as the WeGo Star) train station.[11] Service was interrupted for four days, with limited service being restored afterwards for the next four weeks.[citation needed] By early June 2010, the MTA had obtained loaner buses and other vehicles from surrounding transit agencies, including Memphis, Cincinnati, Clarksville and others. Regular transit service was restored shortly thereafter.[12]
On July 12, 2018, the MTA announced that it was re-branding itself as WeGo Public Transit to reflect the changing landscape of public transit in the region and to also coincide with various recommendations from the 2016 nMotion plan. Despite the failure of the 2018 transit referendum, plans to re-brand the agency were already in place prior to the referendum being held, and the decision to re-brand was made independently of the referendum effort and its outcome.[13][14]
Former BRT Lite projects
After years of study, the MTA secured taxpayer funding to purchase the vehicles necessary for a bus rapid transit (BRT) light line. On September 27, 2009, the MTA implemented the first phase of its new BRT service on the Gallatin Road corridor, designated as route 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite. Covering 12 miles (19km), this BRT service operates from Music City Central to the edge of Sumner County just north of RiverGate Mall. Passengers experience fewer stops and more frequent buses as they travel along one of Nashville's busiest corridors on all new 60-foot (18m), articulated, fuel-efficient hybrid buses. BRT buses stop at designated stops that are marked with a green "BRT stop" sign. During the second phase of BRT in spring 2010, more customer amenities were added. Gallatin Road intersections have Green Light Extenders that allow the traffic signals to stay green longer as a bus approaches. In addition, each station stop features new enhanced passenger waiting areas.
A second high use corridor was identified for implementation and funding goes along Murfreesboro Pike. The 55 Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite, which began service on Monday, April 1, 2013,[15] comes three years after the 56 Gallatin Road BRT Lite, a 12-mile stretch from downtown's Music City Central to RiverGate Mall, began service. The Murfreesboro Pike BRT Lite stretches from downtown to the Antioch area near the Global Mall at the Crossings, formerly Hickory Hollow Mall.[16][17]
Originally, Mayor Karl Dean had hoped to start running "lite" bus rapid transit service on Charlotte and Nolensville pikes in 2014,[18] but plans for the Charlotte BRT Lite were discussed at several public meetings in late January and early February 2015.[19] On March 2, 2015, it was announced that Charlotte Pike will be the third major corridor in Nashville to have BRT Lite service, joining Gallatin Pike and Murfreesboro Pike. 50 Charlotte Pike BRT, which began service on Monday, March 30, 2015, offers limited stops traveling between Music City Central in downtown to the Charlotte Walmart located off River Road.[20]
In March 2015, preliminary plans began for a BRT Lite route to be on Nolensville Pike to begin in the fall of 2015.[21] Route 52 Nolensville Pike BRT lite, which began service on Sunday, March 27, 2016, operates on Nolensville Pike and offers more frequent service, but with fewer stops. All buses serve Nolensville Pike between Downtown and Harding Place with branches to Hickory Plaza (Route 52A) and Wallace/Ezell (Route 52B).[22] While the other previous BRT Lite corridors (Gallatin Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, and Charlotte Pike) all feature both a local service to supplement their perspective BRT lite lines, the Nolensville Pike corridor only features the 52 Nolensville Pike BRT Lite (which replaces the 12 Nolensville Road route).[23]
Bus service
WeGo's bus system serves all of Nashville and Davidson County. While no bus service is directly provided to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Forest Hills, some service is provided, though, to Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Goodlettsville and Oak Hill.[24]
Service to the autonomous Davidson County incorporated community of Lakewood began on Monday, April 30, 2012.[25] Route 27 Old Hickory once provided weekday service in Old Hickory via Lakewood. Buses traveled to and from downtown Nashville and Madison. Park-n-rides once existed at the former City Hall in Lakewood and the WeGo Administrative Offices on Myatt Drive in Madison.[26]
Frequent Bus Lines (some previously advertised as BRT Lite)
Current service
WeGo, as of November 2023, offers 8 frequent bus lines. The service operates every 15 minutes or less on major corridors throughout Davidson County.[27]
3 West End
7 Hillsboro
22 Bordeaux
23 Dickerson Pike
50 Charlotte Pike
52 Nolensville Pike
55 Murfreesboro Pike
56 Gallatin Pike
AccessRide
WeGo offers a paratransit service operating specialized van services for people with disabilities unable to use regular bus routes. AccessRide provides door-to-door paratransit service in Davidson County within 1.5 miles (2.4km) from a regular bus route. This service also provides elderly people with a way to get to doctors' appointments and pick up medication. The fare price for this service is $3.70 per ride. This is an application based service, these can be downloaded from the WeGo Website and must be returned to the Central location downtown.
Music City Central / WeGo Central (Elizabeth Duff Transit Center)
WeGo bus next to mural honoring Elizabeth Duff, on the lower level of the eponymous transit center.
In May 2007, the MTA began construction of Music City Central for $54million,[28] a downtown bus transfer station and hub next to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. It replaced the outdoor Downtown Transit Mall on Deaderick Street.[29] The facility opened to the public on Oct. 26, 2008. Many major lines operate as spokes meeting at this hub.[30]
The transfer hub was renamed to WeGo Central along with the rebranding of the service in 2018.[31] In 2023, it was renamed to the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, in honor of the first woman and the first African American woman to drive buses for Nashville MTA.[32][33] A mural was painted at the transit center by Creative Girls Rock, featuring Duff's portrait, and unveiled in September 2024.[34]
Elizabeth Duff Transit Center is a two-story facility with climate-controlled waiting areas. Each level has a U-shaped driveway with twelve bus bays, arranged with six lining each of the straight lengths of the driveways; the upper level opens onto Representative John Lewis Way, while the lower level opens onto 4th Avenue.[35] Riders can buy tickets, check bus schedules, and shop at a convenience store (lower level) or donut shop (upper level), both located at the facility. A multi-story public parking garage is located above the transfer portion of the facility.[35]
WeGo Transit & the RTA also have a Park & Ride program where passengers can park their cars in designated parking lots and ride the bus to their destination.
Fares
Local service fares are $2.00 for adults; $1.00 for youth aged 19 and under, seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare card holders with a Discount ID. Full-day fares are $4.00 and full calendar month fares are $65.00 for adults. Commuter buses cost $4.25.[39] WeGo Transit finished implementing its QuickTicket fare card system in January 2022.[40] Paper tickets were phased out in September 2023.[41]
Three EMD F40PH locomotives in use by the WeGo Star lined up within the Lebanon, Tennessee yards. The third F40PH on the far right is a former Amtrak locomotive painted in its original Pacific Surfliner scheme. All three locomotives have since been repainted into the WeGo scheme.
WeGo and the RTA are conducting a strategic planning process called nMotion to find new and innovative ways to improve transportation in Nashville.[44] nMotion is WeGo and the RTA's Strategic Plan, a 25-year comprehensive plan designed to meet the Nashville area's vision for transit. The plan will look at how the transit system works today and identify opportunities to enhance the transit system, improve service, attract and retain new riders and meet the growing needs of the Nashville region. Throughout the project, the public will engage in developing the blueprint of actions to make the best opportunities a reality.[45]
In March 2016, WeGo and the RTA began asking for input on three future scenarios for the region's transit system at community meetings. Each scenario presents different transit options for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee. At the meetings, attendees have the chance to review the scenarios and provide input on which strategies the region should consider improving its transit system.[46]
Cancelled and rejected projects
The Amp (formally known as the East-West Connector)
Mayor Karl Dean had his eyes set on a full-fledged bus rapid transit system taking passengers from West End Avenue down Broadway, across the river to East Nashville's Five Points district. The Amp (formally known as the East-West Connector) would have begun at Five Points in East Nashville and extends down Broadway, West End, and Harding Road to White Bridge Road.
The difference between the AMP and the BRT Lite (at the time only available in operation along Gallatin Road and Murfreesboro Pike) is that the former would have been a full-fledged bus rapid transit system, with buses occupying exclusive lanes of traffic.[47][48]
On the afternoon of January 22, 2015, the MTA announced that it would "cease work on the Amp," though strategic planning for mass transit in the region will continue.[49]
In October 2017, Mayor Megan Barry unveiled her $5.2 billion plans for expanding Nashville's transportation infrastructure including the addition of light rail service.[50] The final mass transit system plan named "Let's Move Nashville", included 26 miles (42km) of light rail and 25 miles (40km) of bus rapid transit, was later rejected 64% to 36% in a local referendum in May 2018.
↑ "8: Opportunities for Improving MTA Service and Image"(PDF). Nashville Strategic Transit Master Plan (Report). Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2025. The Music City Central Station is a new state-of-the-art facility that replaced our street level transfer site which resulted in crowded downtown sidewalks. The well lit areas, with heated customer waiting areas, provide a new look for downtown transit.
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