Mobility Week Is Over. What’s Next?

By Matt Largen, Williamson, Inc. President & CEO

Williamson, Inc. is an initiative-driven organization charged with developing Williamson County’s economy in a strategic way.  Williamson County, you might have heard, is rapidly growing.  In fact, our job growth leads the nation, with a nearly 8 percent growth year over year and headquarter jobs growing nearly 12 percent. By 2040, the Middle Tennessee region will welcome nearly one million additional people. How we respond to that growth, collectively and individually, will determine what kind of community we leave our children and grandchildren.

The solutions-oriented transportation initiative Mobility Week, presented by Nissan and driven by Williamson, Inc., took place September 12-16, 2016 and was a rousing success.  It was inspired by the Williamson, Inc.-led trip to Austin, Texas last year, and the week provided ways for people to take control of the number one challenge that puts our quality of life at risk: traffic congestion.  Mobility Week was the beginning of an on-going initiative that, over time, will reduce congestion and improve circulation.  The week focused on exploring practical ways that individuals, commuters, corporations, schools and small businesses in Williamson County can work individually and collaboratively to reduce traffic on our roadways.  Each day promoted a different way to “activate,” including remote working, flex scheduling, ridesharing, walking to eat lunch, and increasing school bus ridership. For an overview of the week, check out our Storify.

During Mobility Week, we, along with our business partners:

• Organized 13 different food trucks in Franklin and Cool Springs
• Reached 106,054 users on Twitter and Facebook via #WillCoMoves
• Welcomed 306 attendees to the 2^nd Annual Transportation Summit
• Organized 20 Park(ing) Day parks throughout Williamson County
• Secured commitments from 12 companies to allow flex scheduling or remote working
• Awarded 3 deserving Williamson County Schools students for their winning PSA videos
• Invited 20 future business leaders from Williamson County Schools to attend the Summit
• Partnered with TMA Group to provide free rides to the Transportation Summit, and
• Hosted a successful “Food Truck Friday” on Sept. 16 at the Administrative Complex with 3 food trucks participating, keeping 275 vehicles off the roadways during the lunch rush hours.

Mobility Week was also about bringing awareness to the community of the great resources already available from organizations like the Transportation Management Association.

The only way Mobility Week lives on is if every single person reading this makes a decision to become a part of the solution. Simply organizing something like this can make a difference. The answer to our traffic problem is a combination of behavior change, letting your elected officials know you support the fully funding of necessary road and transit projects, and designing our communities in a way that reduces traffic congestion. Although Mobility Week is over, we urge you to join the #WillCoMoves movement and see how you and your company can get involved in this important initiative. Visit www.WillCoMoves.com/join and register your company to be listed in our directory of mobility-friendly companies, products and services.

The solution to traffic in Williamson County starts with each and every one of us.