The pro-transit group has conceded as voters shut down the proposed Nashville transit plan. 

As the voting results came in, the numbers for the transit plan are not favorable.  

Out of a little more than 120,000 votes, 64 percent of people voted against the plan and 36 percent voted fot it.  

“I think we’re disappointed. We saw this as a big bold plan….but once the voters speak you have to listen to what they said and move on,” said Ralph Shulz Chamber of Commerce President. 

The plan was originally introduced by former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in October 2017.    

The Metro Council voted on 21-16 on Feb. 6 to add the referendum to the ballot. 

Nashville Mayor David Briley released a statement regarding the plan. 

We all can agree that we have to do something about traffic and transportation, but voters didn’t get behind this plan. My responsibility as Mayor is to get back to the drawing board and find the common ground to develop consensus on a new way forward. Our transportation problems are not going away; in fact, we know they’re only going to get more challenging as we continue to grow. I’ll get back to work tomorrow on finding a solution for Nashville that we all can agree on.

Pro-transit group Transit For Nashville also released a statement. 

This is a disappointing night for the thousands of Nashvillians who stood up over the last five years and said they wanted a transit system that allows everyone to get around our city cheaply, safely and more reliably. Our coalition was formed by many groups throughout the city that saw this transit plan as key to our city’s future prosperity and inclusiveness. Unfortunately, there were many other Nashvillians who did not.

We certainly hope that everyone who voted against this plan because they wanted to see a better one will continue to make their voices heard moving forward.

The problems of our traffic and growing inequality will not go away. It will be up to all of us to once again come to the table and do the hard work of developing a plan that addresses them.

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who introduced the multi-billion dollar transit plan said in a statement Tuesday night. 

This is a disappointing setback for better transit options in Nashville. There will never be the perfect silver bullet to improving transportation options, but this plan was the most comprehensive and well-rounded that Nashville could offer. I hope that in the months and years to come, opponents and supporters can coalesce around a revised plan that will keep moving Nashville forward. 

Click here for election results.