The solution involves Flexi-Choice lanes, created by repurposing existing shoulders and HOV lanes, in a strategy that preserves general purpose lanes, expanding general purpose lanes at peak demand periods, and also introduces choice-driven tolling during peak hours that maintains and funds a free-flowing traffic system.

The HOV lane is converted to a Flexi-Choice lane which allows free use by buses, rewards participating carpoolers while enabling toll payment for single occupancy vehicles (currently in HOV lanes in violation of the law) incentivizing alternative modes of transportation and offering smoother travel for all.

Today, cash rewards for commuters who carpool or use public transit remain the only fast and immediate behavior change tool available to the region. Implementing this at scale will reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic, further alleviating congestion and leveraging any metro transit assets ultimately deployed in Davidson County. Surplus revenue from Flexi-Choice tolling can fund this reward system, creating a sustainable cycle of incentives.

Lastly, active traffic management, including the part-time use of shoulder lanes, will provide more capacity during peak traffic hours, reducing delays without needing to expand highways, which at the scale proposed, is a majestic and astoundingly expensive TDOT vision. These innovations will not only relieve congestion but, rapidly improve accessibility and mobility across the city, making it easier for residents to get to work, school, and other essential services.