NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Davidson County chancery court judge has ruled in favor of Nashville’s “Choose How You Move” transit plan, declaring it “valid and legal” despite a legal challenge from an anti-transit group.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Committee to Stop an Unfair Tax, which argued that the ballot language used in the referendum was misleading and that the plan was financially unfeasible. The group claimed that the Mayor’s office had intentionally included transportation projects that were not authorized by the state’s IMPROVE Act to secure voter approval. However, Chancellor Anne Martin dismissed these allegations, stating that they did not meet the legal threshold to constitute an election contest.
Martin emphasized that the ballot language used in the referendum was clear and understandable, using “everyday words and sentence structures to convey information” to voters. She also rejected the group’s claims regarding financial feasibility, stating that the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence that the plan lacked financial viability.
“The Court therefore finds that the Ordinance is VALID and LEGAL, and that Metro is entitled to proceed pursuant to its terms, including the imposition of the surcharge pursuant to the IMPROVE Act,” Martin wrote in her memorandum and order.
In a statement following the ruling, Mayor Freddie O’Connell expressed confidence in the plan’s continued progress. “On November 5th, Nashvillians made an overwhelming statement that it’s time to take action to improve our transit and related infrastructure,” O’Connell said. “The court’s ruling today stands with the will of Nashvillians and confirms the referendum complied with all elements of state law.”
O’Connell added that he was eager to move forward and focus on implementing the improvements that voters had requested, signaling a desire to put legal challenges behind and begin addressing the city’s transit needs.
The ruling marks a significant victory for the transit plan, which aims to enhance Nashville’s transportation infrastructure through a combination of new projects and system improvements. With the court’s decision, the city can now proceed with the next steps of the plan, including the implementation of the funding surcharge approved by voters.
