The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) has initiated a comprehensive school zone improvements project aimed at enhancing safety for students. This project involves updating 15 school zones, focusing on areas identified in Vision Zero’s high injury network (HIN) of deadliest streets and prioritized in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Justice40 Initiative, which addresses underinvestment in disadvantaged communities.
The School Zone Marking Enhancement Program focuses on enhanced roadway striping, proper signage, and flashing yellow lights to alert drivers when they are in a school zone. In addition to the 15 completed School Zone Marking Enhancement Projects, NDOT has 37 other locations planned for improvements. These school zones will be upgraded on an ongoing basis, with most installations expected during times when school is out of session.
In tandem with the School Zone Marking Enhancement Program, the School Zone Traffic Calming Program aims to reduce vehicle speeds and enhance safety in school zones by implementing roadway striping, proper signage, flashing yellow lights, and speed cushions. Funded by 2023 Vision Zero (VZ) funds, this program has begun initial work, although speed cushions have not yet been installed. Some markings have been completed under the School Zone Marking Enhancement Program. The School Zone Marking Enhancement Program was funded through the Fiscal Year 2024 surplus budget, this program was prioritized for installation before the start of the 2024-2025 school year, resulting in some overlap in design elements and schools with the Traffic Calming Program.
Both programs share elements such as roadway striping, proper signage, and flashing yellow lights, and some schools are part of both initiatives. The key differences lie in their primary focus and funding sources: the Traffic Calming Program includes speed cushions and broader traffic calming measures, while the Marking Enhancement Program emphasizes enhanced roadway markings.
NDOT aims to eventually cover all school zones in Davidson County. The department is also collaborating with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) to include these safety features in new school constructions.
Completed Projects
- Cameron College Preparatory- pending speed cushion installation
- Croft Middle School- pending speed cushion installation
- Paragon Mills Elementary School- pending speed cushion installation
- Ivanetta H Davis Early Learning Center at Bordeaux- pending speed cushion installation
- Isaiah T. Creswell Middle School of Arts- pending speed cushion installation
- Shwab Elementary School- pending speed cushion installation
- Stratton Elementary School
- Madison Middle School
- Dupont Hadley Middle School- pending speed cushion installation
- Johnson Alternative Learning Center
- Mt. View Elementary School
- KIPP Antioch College Prep ES
- Valor Flagship Academy, Valor Voyager Academy- pending speed cushion installation
- Glenview Elementary School
- Una Elementary School
Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center on South Hamilton Road before school zone improvements
Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center on South Hamilton Road after implementation of school zone improvements