Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes

Davidson and Rutherford counties

The proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project will construct new, optional Choice Lanes on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. Choice Lanes are price-managed lanes that use pricing to proactively manage demand and provide travel-time reliability. Choice Lanes allow motorists to maintain consistent travel speeds even when the adjacent existing lanes are congested.

By adding capacity to this heavily traveled roadway, operations are expected to improve in this major growth area. Choice Lanes provide another option for motorists to bypass congestion, allowing motorists to maintain consistent travel times. The Choice Lanes would be new, optional lanes designed, built, financed, operated and maintained by a private-sector partner through a Public-Private Partnership (P3), with initial funding provided by the Transportation Modernization Act.

Current Status: Following initial congestion studies to determine the financial viability of Choice Lanes in the Nashville region, TDOT has commissioned Traffic and Revenue studies and is conversing with private-sector partners to further investigate the feasibility of Choice Lanes. Environmental studies are underway.

Funding Type: Transportation Modernization Act funds have been allocated for a partial public contribution for the proposed project, which will be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (P3), where the private sector partner would design, build, finance, operate and maintain the proposed project.

History and Background

Historic growth in Tennessee has increased traffic levels in urban areas. The resulting chronic congestion, which spans key corridors, stresses the urgency to modernize infrastructure to meet current and future growth. TDOT’s Congestion Studies estimate that $30 billion (2022) is needed to address both urban and rural congestion in Tennessee. Choice Lanes are an emerging urban congestion solution now possible in Tennessee with the authorization of P3s.

The additional state funding provided through the Transportation Modernization Act expands TDOT’s opportunities for federal grants and accelerates urban congestion projects, including Choice Lanes. TDOT’s 10-Year Project Plan identified the I-24 corridor south of Nashville between I-40 and I-840 as a priority urban congestion relief project to deliver as Tennessee’s first Choice Lanes project, and the Transportation Modernization Board approved the proposed Project to be added to TDOT’s 3-Year Plan and advance environmental studies on February 26, 2024. The proposed Choice Lanes on I-24 Southeast are part of a larger program of proposed Choice Lanes projects in some of the most congested areas of Tennessee.

Utilizing a P3 for Choice Lanes is a powerful approach to addressing urban-area congestion and preserving critical funds to address congestion-related challenges in rural areas, like widening interstates to six lanes. Choice Lanes are new lanes—funded in partnership with the private sector— added to congested urban highways that allow motorists an option of paying a voluntary user fee in exchange for faster, more reliable travel speeds and trip times.

Public Involvement and Engagement

In accordance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations and under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an environmental document is required that identifies the significance of a project’s environmental impact.

Environmental studies are underway and the project team will communicate and coordinate with the public and stakeholders often. A public meeting will take place in late 2024, where the public can provide official comment about the project and its potential impacts. More information about the public meeting will be posted here once available.

Is your organization or group interested in learning more about the proposed project? Click here to request a speaker to discuss the proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project.

TDOT held an introduction live stream for stakeholders on March 21, 2024.

Public Involvement Resources