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Local Government Relations

Local Update: Mayor Cooper visits campus; Coordination with Metro Nashville on various campus initiatives

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This update from the Office of Local Government Relations is part of ON THE HILL – Issue 9. ON THE HILL is a biannual report summarizing activity at all three levels of government, as outlined by representatives from our Offices of Federal Relations, State Government Relations and Local Government Relations.

The Office of Local Government Relations hosts Mayor Cooper on campus to announce new regulations protecting sidewalks and bike lanes

Last month, Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Nashville Department of Transportation announced, at Vanderbilt, new citywide regulations to protect sidewalks and bike lanes and preserve multimodal access for all. This announcement was held at Vanderbilt to highlight Vanderbilt’s good policy of keeping the sidewalks open for pedestrians and bikers. Vanderbilt installed Davidson County’s first enhanced crosswalk on 25th Avenue as part of the university’s West End Neighborhood project and FutureVU goal to improve the safety and walkability of campus. The crosswalk is installed across 25th Avenue near the Kensington Promenade. Construction began in late February and was completed in time for Commencement in May. The enhanced crosswalk makes the area safer for pedestrian and vehicular traffic by featuring flashing lights in the pavement that are controlled by bollards on each side of the crosswalk. GCR’s Local Government Relations office oversaw and coordinated the process with Metro to ensure codes and policies were met.

 

Mayor John Cooper tours Vanderbilt alongside Vice Chancellor Nathan Green, NDOT Director Diana Alcorn, and Councilmembers Tom Cash and Emily Benedict. (Vanderbilt University)

LGR coordination with Metro Nashville on the following initiatives:

  • FutureVU – Rothschild College opens in August 2022: Vanderbilt has opened Rothschild College, the fifth residential college to open in the West End Neighborhood. Located on the corner of West End Ave. and 24th Ave. S., Rothschild College will contain singles, doubles, and four-person suites with a total of 333 beds. It also features a dining hall, great room, study lounges, and a reservable Black Box Theater. Inaugural faculty head of Rothschild College, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Ravindra Duddu, will reside in the college alongside his family.
  • Football Stadium: As announced last month, Vanderbilt University and FirstBank signed a 10-year football stadium naming rights and campus collaboration agreement. LGR has been working closely with Metro on coordinating the new sign for the stadium.
  • Owen Graduate School of Management: LGR has been working with Metro on the final construction, and as of early September, two floors are open for use.

Mayor’s Office collaborates with community partners to map heat distribution across Nashville

As part of ongoing work around sustainability and resilience, the office of Mayor John Cooper announced a collaboration with Metro Nashville departments, Vanderbilt University faculty and students, local nonprofits, and community members to collect data about the distribution of heat as part of a regional effort to map where people are most at risk during extreme heat waves. The effort will help make Nashville a more livable, enjoyable city for all neighborhoods and further environmental justice. Project partners include the Mayor’s Office, Metro Public Health Department, the Tennessee Climate Office, the Tennessee Department of Health, Middle Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Cumberland River Compact, Urban Green Lab, and Adventure Science Center.

Local Government Relations Team

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Lynn Maddox
Special Projects Director
and County Liaison
email
615-322-6384