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This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with mayors from across Tennessee at the ThinkTennessee Mayors’ Roundtable on Transit and Transportation. Leaders from 12 cities that represent 56% of the State GDP came together to share what’s working, what’s hard, and how we’re navigating growth, infrastructure, and community expectations.
What stood out most was how similar our experiences are.
Every city is balancing safety, mobility, affordability, and quality of life. Every mayor is working through aging infrastructure, limited resources, and rising demands. And every one of us is trying to build places where people can move safely, connect easily, and feel proud of where they live.
I was proud to represent Memphis and share one of our recent projects: the redesign and road diet of Riverside Drive.
For years, residents and partners talked about how to better connect downtown to our riverfront. With the transformation of Tom Lee Park, we had a real opportunity to rethink that corridor. So we did.
We reduced Riverside Drive from four lanes to two, slowed traffic, added parking, created safer crossings, built a separated bike trail, and made the area more walkable and pedestrian-friendly. It’s a roughly $2 million investment that puts people first and turns our riverfront into a place you can actually enjoy, not just drive past. We delivered quieter streets, safer access, and a stronger connection between our city and one of its most beautiful assets.
Sharing that story with other mayors sparked real conversations about how we redesign streets to reflect how people actually live. Not just for cars, but for people: families, seniors, kids. And how our streets support small businesses and the visitor experience.
What I took away from this gathering is simple: we all have a lot to learn from each other.
Whether it’s Memphis reimagining Riverside Drive, Chattanooga rebuilding trust in transit, Knoxville redesigning bus routes, or Nashville expanding access through transportation investments, we’re all working toward the same goal: stronger communities that work for everyone.
When we make streets safer, Memphis rises. When we connect people to parks, jobs, and opportunity, Memphis rises. And when mayors across Tennessee share ideas and support one another, we all win.
Good News!
   Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov
Track Our Progress
The linked reports below provide evidence to support our public safety strategy and our work to ensure municipal fiscal responsibility. These dashboard provides a quick overview, with the ability to dive in deeper to neighborhoods and divisions. Both dashboards updates daily.
 SAFER COMMUNITIES: View the dashboard here.
 FINANCE TRACKER: View the tracker here.
Our Blight Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38109, 38114, 38127.
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
Want to know what's happening in Memphis? Explore these event calendars to stay in the loop on all the city has to offer!
Memphis Public Libraries
Memphis Parks
Memphis Travel
Arts Memphis
Choose901
I love Memphis
City of Memphis Meetings & Notices
Music Live 365. Live music is more than a night out. It fuels our cultural economy, supports working musicians, and keeps Memphis' creative spirit strong. Every ticket purchased, every show attended, is an investment in the artists and venues that make our city's soundtrack unforgettable. Explore this month's lineup and support Memphis music here.
When we invest in housing, we invest in the future of Memphis!
A new chapter for homeownership in Memphis.
We joined United Housing and Convergence Memphis to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of their new office — a major step forward in expanding affordable housing, strengthening emerging developers, and building generational wealth through homeownership.
Made possible through support from Congressman Cohen, the City of Memphis, THDA, First Horizon Bank, and local banking partners, this new headquarters will serve as a hub for financial wellness training, mortgage lending, home building, and renovation support.
When we invest in housing, we invest in the future of Memphis.
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