Supporting Data & Other Resources
In support of the long-range planning programs, both statewide and regionally, the MTRPO shall compile data and input regarding transportation needs and shall coordinate any responses with the State’s Long Range Planning Division as appropriate to ensure adherence to guidance provided by TDOT’s 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan.
TDOT 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan
The TDOT 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan outlines coordination, cooperation, and consultation between TDOT, the MPO’s, the RPO’s, and state and federal partner agencies, interested parties, and the public to provide consistent and effective planning, design, construction, maintenance, operation, and improvement of the transportation system.
Nashville area MPO:
Middle Tennessee Connected 2021-2045
The Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) is responsible for the Nashville MPO’s regional transportation plan for an area comprised of Davidson, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties. To ensure seamless planning for the entire Middle Tennessee area, GNRC coordinated with TDOT’s 25-year long range transportation plan and the Clarksville Urbanized Area’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) spans the next quarter-century and represents the collective transportation goals of city and county governments, transit agencies, and TDOT.
Clarksville Urbanized Area MPO: The 2045 Clarksville Metropolitan Transportation Plan
The 2045 Clarksville Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is the multimodal, long range transportation plan for the Clarksville Urbanized Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CUAMPO), comprising Montgomery County, and a portion of Christian County, Kentucky. The plan sets a regional vision and course of action for addressing the transportation needs of the Clarksville MPA over the next twenty-seven years. The recommendations of the 2045 MTP are the result of public input, technical analysis, and close coordination between local municipalities, counties, Clarksville Transit System, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and other members of the Clarksville Urbanized Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CUAMPO). The Clarksville MPA, comprised of the Clarksville, TN urbanized area and nearby areas expect to urbanize in the next twenty years, is federally required to maintain an MTP with a minimum twenty-year time horizon.
Learn more ➔2045 Clarksville Urbanized Area Metro Transportation Plan
Urban Growth Boundaries and County Growth Plans
Created by Public Chapter 1101 in 1998, the purpose of Tennessee’s Growth Plan Act was to establish a comprehensive growth policy for the state, part of which was a requirement to designate urban growth boundaries, planned growth areas, and rural areas based on projections of growth over a 20-year period. With exception to counties with metropolitan government entities, all counties and municipalities were required to adopt a growth plan. To view the growth plans for each county in the MTRPO, please click here:
Other links to services and information for Middle Tennessee region communities can be found here:
USDA Rural Development https://www.rd.usda.gov/tn
Tennessee Valley Authority – Economic Development https://tvasites.com/
County Technical Assistance Service https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/
Municipal Technical Advisory Service https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/
Functional
Classification System
Functional Classification is the process by which streets and highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended to provide. Systems Section is responsible for the determination and classification of the individual roadways. TDOT is the administrator of the official Functional Classification Map for the State of Tennessee and all documentation pertaining to any and all changes to the system, including all changes in the Functional Classification System. Each county in the MTRPO has a functional classification system map, with the City of Dickson and Town of Burns in Dickson County having an additional map.
View Maps ➔MT communities Functional Classification maps
For more information, contact the Region 3 Office of Community Transportation supervisor: herman.wright@tn.gov
State Aid System
Program
The State Aid program provides funds to county governments for the improvement or rehabilitation of roads on the State Aid system. The State Aid system is a network of local selected county roads that require construction, planning, or paving projects. The Roadway Data office is responsible for processing county requests for additions/deletions of qualifying roads to the State Aid System.
The process involves the submission of documents to the Roadway Data Office through a designated TDOT Region State Aid office. There is also collaboration between the State Aid Engineer and personnel from the Region 3 Office.
Major Thoroughfare Plans/Maps
A Major Thoroughfare Plan (MTP) is a long-range road plan or map that shows a vision for the jurisdiction’s transportation network. Its intention is to provide guidance for future growth and is a regulatory plan for public investments and future improvements to roads, sidewalks, and multimodal facilities. Creating an MTP should include analysis of land use, population, employment characteristics, layout of the existing roadway network and proposed new roadways, estimated traffic volume, and even historical traffic crash data to identify areas of concern in terms of roadway capacity and traffic safety for the community.
Each county and municipality are required by statute to adopt and record a major thoroughfare map. The link provided is a collection of many current and historic major thoroughfare maps—MTRPO Major Thoroughfare Plans: Cheatham County, Dickson County, Houston County, Humphreys County, and Stewart County. Please check with your county register of deeds office for an official copy, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, https://www.gnrc.org/254/Comprehensive-Planning or the jurisdiction’s local planning and codes office.
Long-Range Plans and Studies
As outlined in TCA 13-3-302, the objective of any plan for a community is to accomplish “a coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development which will, in accordance with existing and future needs, best promote public health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.” A land use and transportation policy plan is an essential planning instrument for a community with the primary purpose of producing an overall development plan and identifying strategies for implementing the plan which involves future development of land and transportation facilities. Such plans are intended to be used as frameworks to guide municipal and County officials, community leaders, business entrepreneurs, industrialists, and others as they make decisions which will affect the future growth and development in their respective communities.
Although not mandated by statute, many communities over the years have invested in creating long-range plans and studies to guide their respective development policies which in turn have fulfilled grant funding success for public improvements. The link provided is a collection of many current and historic long-range plans and studies in the MTRPO communities—MT area Long Range Plans & Studies: Cheatham County & here—Dickson County & here—Houston County—Humphreys County—Stewart County. Other area plans/studies here. Please check with your local jurisdiction’s local planning and codes office, or the Greater Nashville Regional Council https://www.gnrc.org/254/Comprehensive-Planning.
Development Districts
Tennessee's Development Districts are planning and economic development organizations owned and operated by its counties, cities, and towns. The Development District fosters intergovernmental cooperation on growth and development issues of regional and statewide concern, promotes effective utilization of resources to address a multitude of issues related to economic development, transportation and infrastructure planning, housing and community development, and many others.
The Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) provides a range of services to assist communities in increasing economic prosperity and improving quality of life, such as affordable housing preservation, industrial development, infrastructure improvements, job creation, tourism development, and workforce development. These services include Grant Writing and Administration, Homeowner Assistance, Qualified Opportunity Zones Network, Small Business Lending, Strategic Planning, and Technical Assistance with economic development agencies and boards. For more information about GNRC’s Economic Development, please visit https://www.gnrc.org/172/Economic-Development
Neighboring Development Districts:
South Central Tennessee Development District
Northwest Tennessee Development District
Pennyrile Area Development District (Kentucky)
Demographic Data
Demographic data is statistical data collected about the characteristics of the population, e.g. age, gender and income for example. It is usually used to research a product or service and how well it is selling, who likes it and/or in what areas it is most popular. Demographic data can help provide a basis for understanding communities as they are now, where they've been and where they're headed. It can be a powerful tool for tracking change over time and for uncovering the needs or strengths of a community to guide planning, policy development or decision making.
Below are three links for Tennessee population and related demographics by the TN Dept of Health, TN Dept of Economic & Community Development, and by the Federal Census.
TN Population-Age-Group-Sex-Race
County Profiles
For quick and reliable data, Population and Demographics, Education, Housing & Income, Labor Force, Unemployment Rate, Industries, Top Employers, and other local data can be found for each county in the Middle Tennessee region by viewing :
Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development https://tnecd.com/county-profiles/
Economic Data
Economic data measures the financial health or well-being of a country, specific regions, or individual markets. It is often presented in comparison with past measures. This data is used to power economic analysis and enrich other categories of financial data. Data has become a key input in modern economic production alongside land, capital, labor, and oil. There are several in-state entities whose data research on the regional economy have benefited many area communities looking to increase their presence and competitiveness in the regional as well as the global market.
Below are four links for Middle Tennessee-focused and statewide economic data.
Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association
MTSU Business and Economic Development
