Calling on Nashvillians to get behind the most sweeping and expensive project in Metro history, Mayor Megan Barry on Tuesday unveiled a $5.2 billion mass transit proposal that sets up a monumental decision for the city.
Barry wants Nashville voters to go to the polls in May to approve a referendum on increases to four taxes to pay for the massive undertaking — a combination of 26 miles of new light rail, more robust bus service, and a major tunnel below downtown where the new transit lines would run.
The main revenue generator would be a one-half percent hike to Nashville’s sales tax in July 2018 that would jump to 1 percent in 2023. She also proposed increases to the city’s hotel-motel tax, rental car tax and business and excise tax.