As with many major American cities, Nashville-Davidson County has had a long and
diverse history in the area of public transportation. Many different frameworks
have been implemented with varying degrees of success. Both private and public
organizations have contributed to the goal of providing safe, reliable, efficient,
customer-friendly public transit as alternatives to driving alone.
In 1860, the McGavock and Mt. Vernon Horse Railroad Company and the South
Nashville Street Railroad Company were chartered and used steam and mules to power
rail cars to give Nashville its first taste of public transportation. On April
30, 1889, the McGavock and Mt. Vernon Horse Railroad Company operated the first
electric streetcar in Nashville, and the city became one of the first in the
nation to have such "modern" transportation.
From the years following the Civil War to the 1920's, numerous companies formed,
consolidated, and disbanded as competition for passengers created a variety of
financial and legal hardships for the struggling companies.
In 1926, motor buses were first introduced in Nashville to supplement the existing
street railway service. The Tennessee Electric Power Company took over the
controlling interest of the public transportation system in 1930, and in 1940-41
phased out Nashville's streetcar system.
In 1941, the name of the company was changed to Southern Coach Lines, Inc., and
under still another reorganization, the name was changed to the Nashville Transit
Company in 1953.
The next 20 years brought unprecedented growth and prosperity to Nashville,
resulting in a dramatic increase in the use of the private automobile.
Consequently, the number of people riding the bus decreased, and the health of the
transit system deteriorated. Spiraling costs, higher fares, service cutbacks and
deferred maintenance meant lower quality transit service for those thousands of
Nashvillians who still relied on the bus.
Realizing the importance of a solid public transit system, the Metropolitan
Government of Nashville and Davidson County applied for a federal grant for the
purchase of the Nashville Transit Company. They realized that a viable public
transportation system contributes to the healthy economy by aiding in employment
and reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. By September of 1973, the
transfer from private to public ownership was completed and the Metropolitan
Transit Authority was officially chartered. A five member Board of Directors was
formed to oversee the operation of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The MTA
entered into a contract with a company to provide advisory and management services
for the public transit system.
In August, 1990, McDonald Transit Associates was awarded the contract to manage
the day-to-day operation of the system. In turn, McDonald Transit Associates
formed Davidson Transit Management, Inc. to employ the workers that operate the
public transportation system. This contractual arrangement continued until early
2003.
On December 29, 1992, the employee unit changed from Davidson Transit Management
to Davidson Transit Organization, a private, non-profit organization.
After the completion of a Metro audit and a quest for continual improvement,
recent changes were made to the MTA organizational structure with the addition of
a Chief Executive Officer, a Metropolitan Government position. This position was
developed to provide the strategic leadership necessary to carry the MTA well into
the 21st century. The current CEO, appointed in January 2002, reports directly to
the MTA Board of Directors and is responsible for managerial oversight of the
entire system. He is the agency's only Metro government employee. Other
personnel are employees of the Davidson Transit Organization, a private,
non-profit organization.
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Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Directors ญญ Five-member panel appointed
by the Mayor and approved by Council. They make policies regarding the operation
of the MTA.
Gail Carr Williams, Chair
Lewis Lavine, Member
Thomas F. "Freddie" O'Connell, Member
Marian T. Ott, Member
Jeffrey Yarbro, Member
Management of Metropolitan Transit Authority ญญ Oversee the day-to-day operation
of the MTA following the guidelines set by the MTA Board of Directors.
Paul J. Ballard, Chief Executive Officer
Davidson Transit Organization Board of Directors and Officers ญญ The initial Board
of Directors was specified in the Charter of the Corporation. Successors are
chosen by nomination and majority vote. Members of the Board of Directors have
control and general management of the affairs and business of the corporation.
The officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors. They are
responsible for seeing that the orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors
are carried into effect.
Bob Baulsir, President
Jim McAteer, Vice President
Ed Oliphant, Secretary
Patricia Harris-Morehead, Member
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