Sticking to the Essentials

And while they are working on securing the factors that will keep them running, Farquhar says they can look to the future.

"Until we have those two issues taken care of, we can look at where the stations should go. We can start directing development around the stations to get transit-oriented development. Get an idea what the capital improvements need to be.

"We are certainly very well aware that we are going to a private property owner. And it is [CSX's] property. And after what has been well over 100 years of telling them — kind of brushing them off and not understanding their side of the picture. We try to do that. We really try to pay attention to be aware of their needs. They have their needs, they have their wants and they have their wishes. And we're definitely going to try and address some of those.

"The area is growing. Of course, I will never tell you that we will get rid of the private automobile that is ridiculous. But we can as the area grows get people to think there are more ways to get around, especially more ways to get in and out of downtown, than driving on I-40."

In the end, though, it's about ridership. Farquhar says the Music City Star has about 500 riders a day currently and they are shooting for about 1,500 a day by this fall, a year after the system opened. So how are they going to do it? Simple, they take care of the essentials.

As Farquhar says, "You put a quality service out and you let people know about it and it will build up."