In partnership with curb management platform, Coord, Metro Nashville is piloting an innovative Smart Zone program to streamline curbside loading, reduce congestion, and support local economic activity.
Metro Nashville, in partnership with Coord, a leading curb management company, today launched its first-ever Smart Zone program to better manage the city’s curbs. This follows Nashville’s selection by Coord as one of four U.S. cities to participate in the company’s inaugural Digital Curb Challenge to undertake a brand new curb management program.
The demand for curb space for commercial on-demand delivery, e-commerce, and freight continues to grow in cities. Smart Zones, powered by Coord’s technology, enable commercial drivers to use their mobile devices they already use every day to locate, hold, book, and pay for time at nearby, available loading zones. As a result, Smart Zones promote the economic vitality of commercial areas by making it easier for businesses to receive supplies and fulfill customer requests for deliveries, improving the experience for people who visit the area. While offering a more streamlined experience for drivers, Smart Zones can improve mobility for everyone visiting the downtown neighborhood by managing safety and congestion challenges, such as double-parking and blocked pedestrian access.
Known for its vibrant music and entertainment industry, Nashville will use the Smart Zones to provide enhanced efficiency for commercial deliveries that serve businesses in the central business district that cater to locals and tourists alike. The pilot program is part of Metro Nashville’s Transportation Plan to provide a holistic multimodal system that better connects neighborhoods, residents, and businesses to places they need and want to go safely.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said, “I’m pleased Nashville has been selected for a Coord pilot demonstration of the benefits of digital curbside management because our downtown conditions make for a great fit for this project. It’s also a strong complement to the Metro Nashville Transportation Plan and our Vision Zero effort to significantly increase safety on our roads. Our musicians, performers and hospitality providers need to be able to load in and out safely. Downtown employees and residents must be able to travel smoothly and safely. This is another step in our effort to make transportation safer and easier in Nashville.”
“Public and private partners are currently working together to improve the city’s real and perceived mobility challenges, some of which relate to traffic into, around, or through downtown. With commercial deliveries being a necessary component of the neighborhood that generates 25 percent of Davidson County’s sales tax revenue, we’re optimistic that Smart Zones will make a positive, measurable impact on the downtown experience for businesses, employees, residents and visitors alike,” said Tom Turner, President and CEO of the Nashville Downtown Partnership.
Metro Nashville has deployed eight Smart Zones located in downtown Nashville:
- 2nd Ave between Broadway and Commerce (northeast side)
- Church St between 4th Ave and Printer’s Alley (southeast side)
- Church St between 3rd Ave and Printer’s Alley (southeast side)
- Union St between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave (south side)
- Union St between 4th Ave and Printer’s Alley (south side)
- Union St between Rep. John Lewis Way and Arcade Alley (south side)
- Rep. John Lewis Way between Union and north of the Arcade (southwest side)
- Rep. John Lewis Way between Church and south of the Arcade (southwest side)
Coord’s Smart Zones will also provide Metro Nashville with information that is essential in empowering the city to make data-driven operational changes. For example, program data can be used to understand when and where loading space is most needed and to help manage demand for it through pricing and time limits. Because Smart Zone availability, rules and prices are digitally communicated to drivers, Coord’s platform allows a city to make rules adjustments for zones in response to policy changes, special events or emergencies without the hassle and expense of modifying signage on the street.
“With restaurants, music and culture, there’s no place in America quite like Downtown Nashville. As the world is discovering what locals have long known, Metro Nashville is putting forth a variety of mobility initiatives to ensure its vibrant downtown is safe, pleasant and easy to access for residents, businesses, and visitors alike,” said Dawn Miller, Coord’s VP of Policy and Partnerships. “Smart Zones and curb management are an important piece of Nashville’s investment in its transportation future. They enable the downtown to optimize curbs to support increasing demand from a variety of users. We are delighted to launch this pilot program and look forward to sharing best practices developed in Nashville with other cities across North America.”
Coord launched their second annual Digital Curb Challenge last month. Applications can be submitted and are open until February 15, 2021.
About Metro Nashville
Metro Nashville, with a population of over 692,000 includes one of the most visited downtowns in America spotlighting a vibrant business, travel and tourism and music industry. With more than 180 recording studios, and 5,000 working musicians, Nashville is clearly “Music City.” Music is the reason that many people come to Nashville, but its two major sports teams, extensive park system, and endless arts and cultural opportunities offer people plenty of reasons to stay; over 16 million out of town visitors came to Nashville in 2019.
About Nashville Downtown Partnership
The Nashville Downtown Partnership is a private sector nonprofit corporation whose core purpose is "to make Downtown Nashville the compelling urban center in the Southeast in which to LIVE, WORK, PLAY and INVEST." Organized in 1994, the Partnership has transitioned into a downtown leadership organization that focuses on business recruitment and retention, residential and retail development, public space management, access and transportation, communications and marketing.
About Coord
Coord is transforming city streets, starting with the curb. Coord is the only comprehensive curb management platform, empowering cities with technology to digitally operate and price the curb at scale, creating more efficient, safe and equitable streets. Recognized by CNBC Upstart 100 and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design, Coord partners include cities like Seattle, Boston, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Nashville, Aspen, Boulder and West Palm Beach. Coord is based in New York City and backed by Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs, Alliance Ventures, Trucks, Urban us and DB Digital Ventures. For more information, visit coord.com.
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