[17] The plan, later named the "IMPROVE Act",[18] was introduced in the state legislature in March and was passed the following month by large margins in the House and Senate.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a supporter of the IMPROVE Act, had proposed a 2018 referendum on transit and named Gallatin Pike as one of the light rail corridors in early 2017.

[20] After a series of community meetings and public hearings, a revised version of the plan with an extended Charlotte Avenue light rail line was adopted in December.

[16] The plan forecast total system ridership of between 114,500 and 131,000 by 2040, with 61,000 to 71,000 daily riders on the light rail lines and 53,500 to 60,000 additional passengers on improved bus routes.

[25] The projects were wholly within Nashville and Davidson County, with outlying areas expected to use express buses and park and ride lots to transfer to the light rail and rapid bus system.

[26] The light rail system would have been centered around a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) tunnel under 5th Avenue in Downtown Nashville, to open in 2027 with three stations: at the existing Music City Central bus terminal, at Broadway near Bridgestone Arena, and at Lafayette Street.

[27][28] The outer segments of the light rail network would have generally used dedicated lanes on city roads, with transit signal priority at intersections.

[31] The first of 19 new neighborhood transit centers would have opened in 2019, featuring passenger waiting shelters, ticket vending machines, digital boarding information, and climate control.

[42][43] Among the major local donors were large employers like Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Bridgestone Americas, Community Health Systems, HCA Healthcare, and Ingram Industries.

In early January, Barry became embroiled in a scandal involving an extramarital affair with the head of her security detail and the related misuse of government funds, and stepped down as a spokesperson for the yes campaign.

[55] An opposition group named "No Tax 4 Tracks" was formed in January 2018 and opened a political action committee to solicit funds for the no campaign.

The organization, formed in December 2017, declined to disclose its donors and was scrutinized by the yes campaign, who accused Nashville Smart of being funded by the Koch Brothers' Americans for Prosperity.

[61][62] A related group, Better Transit for Nashville, submitted an op-ed piece to The Tennessean in April that was allegedly written by a spokesperson named Matt Johnson, including a picture.

[47] An anti-transit member of the Metro Council, Robert Swope, also proposed automated buses and three double-decker freeways as an alternative to the transit plan.

[71] Votes in favor of the referendum carried majorities in only five of the 35 Metro Council districts, and most support was concentrated in downtown and close-in neighborhoods that had experienced recent gentrification.

[77][78] The result was blamed on the choice of an off-election with low turnout, as well as inconsistent messages from the pro-transit campaign that was managed by a controversial local public relations firm with ties to past mayoral administrations.

[79][80] Mayor Briley stated that the city government would submit a revised plan after the IMPROVE Act's mandatory one-year waiting period, likely in 2020.

[84] No Tax 4 Tracks, the opposition PAC, called the election an "exceptional moment in Nashville history" and stated that the group would remain active in shaping a future transit plan.