A resolution requesting the Mayor's Office, the Finance Department, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of General Services to examine the feasibility of and take the action necessary to participate in the EZ Ride program sponsored by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee of the Metropolitan Council met in January for the purpose of hearing a presentation about EZ Ride, which is a program that allows for private companies and organizations, as well as governmental entities, to either provide discounts or pay for their employees to ride MTA to and from work; and

WHEREAS, the EZ Ride program has taken off in the City with dozens of corporations already on board; and

WHEREAS, Vanderbilt University and the State of Tennessee have also signed up and are participating in this program; and

WHEREAS, the EZ Ride program does a number of good things for the community by utilizing our existing mass transit system, reducing the traffic congestion in the morning and in the evenings, and reducing the need for more and more parking spaces and parking garages; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Transportation Committee recognized the importance of the program and voiced very strong support for not only the continuation of the program but for the inclusion of the Metropolitan Government in the program as well, including bringing forth this Resolution to the entire Metropolitan Council; and

WHEREAS, participation in the EZ Ride program would provide an invaluable service to the employees of the Metropolitan Government by providing them with transportation benefits and eliminating the need for extra parking, while at the same time providing additional ridership for MTA.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Mayor's Office, the Finance Department, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of General Services to examine the feasibility of and take the action necessary to participate in the EZ Ride program sponsored by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Mayor Bill Purcell, to Finance Director David Manning, to Human Resources Director Dorothy Shell Berry, and to General Services Director Nancy Whittemore.

Section 3. That the Mayor's Office, the Finance Department, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of General Services are further requested to respond to the Council as to the action taken in compliance with the request stated in Section 1 hereof not later than sixty (60) days after the adoption of this Resolution.

Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ginger Hausser, Jim Shulman