Plaza Activation - Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central

Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, known as Music City Central when it opened in 2008, is WeGo’s primary transit hub, located in the heart of downtown. The two-story facility has 24 bus bays, a customer care center, and various amenities including climate-controlled waiting areas and free Wi-Fi; paid public parking is available in a multi-story garage located above the facility. Each level of the facility has a U-shaped driveway with twelve bus bays; the upper level provides access to Representative John Lewis Way, while the lower level connects to 4th Avenue. Situated between the transit facility and Nashville Municipal Auditorium is a public plaza, built as an extension of the transit center and made publicly accessible in 2008, see figure 1. Figure 1 Elizabeth Duff Plaza Efforts to “activate” the plaza have been limited in the past, with Municipal being the primary entity to use the space to support live music and sporting events. In 2025, WeGo partnered with the Nashville Farmers’ Market to launch the seasonal WeGo Market, connecting transit riders and community members with fresh produce and other goods. While the Market has been transformational for the space, WeGo is seeking to implement a permanent installation to make the plaza a premier destination for riders, community members, workers employed nearby, and visitors to the downtown area. By strengthening the plaza’s identity and encouraging more routine use, the space has a strong opportunity to become an active public environment. Currently, several low-visibility areas act as “dead zones” and can feel underused, highlighting the potential for thoughtful design improvements that promote visibility, discourage loitering, and support a thriving hub for the community. Project Overview Project Objectives The plaza activation of the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center has the following objectives: Activating a space with a defined function, use, and concept, Improving the safety and security of the plaza and transit center, Enhancing transit rider experience, Expanding integration of transit with micromobility and non-motorized modes of transportation, Increasing accessibility of the plaza for all riders and non-riders alike, Incorporating protective design elements for weather (e.g., heat, rain, cold, etc.), and Partnering with local community organizations to deliver tailored programming. Proposed Activation Strategies Qualified vendors should consider, but are not limited to, the following activation strategies: Permanent or Semi-Permanent Installations: Fixed, durable seating and furniture Landscaping and permanent planters Durable surface treatments Decorative, fixed lighting Dedicated market pavilion Wayfinding improvements Interactive Elements: Games (e.g., big chess, ping pong, soccer, etc.) Dynamic art installations (e.g., murals with QR codes, participatory art projects, etc.) Designated children’s play area Programming: Farmers’ and seasonal markets Cultural celebrations Festivals Music Community education events Other pop-up events Limitations & Considerations The plaza sits atop a parking garage owned by WeGo, which impacts the load carrying capacity of the area. Per a limited analysis completed in 2024, the plaza load carrying could be conservatively assumed to be 60 pounds per square foot (psf) based on a reasonable reduction of live load carrying capacity from the original construction, which was 100 psf. Due to this limited load carrying capacity, vehicles are prohibited on the plaza with some exceptions. All materials from this analysis will be made available to the selected vendor or team, but the limited load capacity should be considered as vendors craft their proposals. Additionally, due to the plaza’s location above the parking garage, mitigation of potential fire risks must be appropriately considered and prioritized in the proposed plaza design.