Bus

Public Transport - 2024 update

WeGo Transit services are an excellent transportation choice that foster independence, responsibility, and societal and geographic awareness. Magnet school students are using buses in your neighborhood and all over town. High school is the perfect time for your child to start routinely traveling independently, and Hume Fogg Academic High School has the best public transport of any high school in Tennessee.

Some advantages of using public transport to and from HFA High School:

All MNPS high school students ride all WeGo buses and trains in Davidson County for free with their student IDs.
There is no need to purchase, register, insure, tax, maintain or store a car to use public transport.
There are no parking spaces or parking costs with public transport.
There is no minimum age, no need to take a parent, no licensing, and few health requirements, to use public transport - and it is easier than driving a car.
You can use your phone while on public transport - and there is free WiFi on every bus and train, and newer buses have at-seat USB charging.
Public transport is considerably safer than cars.
Public transport is better for the environment than cars.

How to plan to use public transport to HFA:
Students (and parents) can prepare for the first day of school by taking a couple of practice trips. Your family will be at ease with the process in no time. Here are the key things to know:

Where is the best bus stop to get on? Refer to the WeGo network map to determine your nearest services, and their frequency. Routes 3, 7, 8, 18, 64, 93 and 95 all pass right by HFA. Then consider the frequency, the best walking routes, car drop-off locations, and how pleasant the roadside is - not just the geographically closest bus stop. These issues might result in you making a completely different, but superior, bus journey, compared to simply using the bus stop nearest your home.
Do you need to transfer buses? Routes 52, 55, 87, 89 and 94 pass within a few minutes walk of HFA. WeGo Central itself is only a 15 minute walk from HFA. See if a longer walk, or getting a lift to a different bus stop, would reduce or remove the need to transfer. Transfers add time, complexity and effort to your commute. If you do need to transfer, what is the route name, destination and time of the second bus? Again, choose a transfer location using the times, convenience and comfort of the transfer location, not just the first overlapping bus stop of the two routes. If the transfer is at WeGo Central or the North Nashville Transit Center, find out which bay the second bus will leave from - before you travel. Allow 10 minutes to reliably transfer - but also check the schedules to see if a faster transfer might be possible on lucky days!
How will you pay? Do you have your student ID card? If not, do you have a Quick Ticket with at least $4 ($2 for registered Youth, ages 19 and younger) per day stored value loaded onto it? If neither, do you have $1 cash ($2 for over 19 year olds), exact fare only, for each separate bus ride?
Where will you pull the cord before your stop, to get off? Note easily identifiable landmarks - including on both sides of the bus, and for when it is dark. Pull the cord after the previous bus stop, but in plenty of time for the bus driver to react to your stop request.
Cross streets safely:
- Walk on sidewalks. If there are none, select quiet streets, and walk facing oncoming traffic.
- Use a marked crosswalk, a signalized intersection, or a stop-sign-controlled intersection, if there is one nearby. Otherwise, cross streets on straight sections, away from parked cars, choosing places with maximum visibility.
- Cross behind the bus, not in front of it.
- Look both ways, and walk - not run - in a straight line across the street: Continue to look both ways.
- Do not wear headphones, block your vision, or look at your phone while crossing the street.
No smartphone? Check the System Map, then the schedules, on the WeGo website before you go at: https://www.wegotransit.com/ride/maps-schedules/bus.
No internet? Want maps and timetables even when you have a flat battery? Pick up printed maps and pocket timetables at the Nashville Public Library and at WeGo Central.

Frequent service tip:
Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes on the most frequent routes in Nashville. Students who live along these Frequent routes have European-style turn-up-and-go service all day, every school day: Murfreesboro Pike (Route 55), Nolensville Pike (52), Hillsboro Pike (7), West End (3), Charlotte Pike (50), Rosa Parks Blvd/Buchanan St (22), Dickerson Pike (23) and Gallatin Pike (56).

If you have a smartphone, use The Transit App or Google Maps, Transit Directions, to plan and optimize your trips:
Both of these apps are available for Apple and Android. Both use live GPS locations of buses and trains, and the most current schedules. You need to enable Location Services on your phone to maximize the benefits of these apps. There is free WiFi on every bus and train. Newer buses have at-seat USB charging.

The Transit App is great for looking at the next bus from where you are, right now. The app clearly displays live next bus information from the stops nearest you. You can also use it to plan trips from elsewhere, and at other times. WeGo passengers have free access to “Royale” so get yourself an avatar and start earning points!
Google Maps Transit Directions are great for planning a trip in advance, or from another place, or at a specified time. You can easily plan trips from different start and end locations, and plan for a desired departure or arrival time. It does have live info too. Google Maps has many cool features, such as Google Maps Location Sharing, so you can enable others to see your progress in real time.

Student ID Card tips:
IDs are issued within the first month of school, and are valid through September of the following school year. This is important to know because not only can the card be used for free travel throughout the summer break, but there is sometimes a delay in receiving ID cards at the beginning of the following school year. Hold on to last year’s card, so you don't have a “gap” with no ID fare card.
The cost to replace a lost or damaged card is $15. Replacement should be arranged through Mrs North in the library. Students will be limited to three replacement cards per semester.

Bike/Bus tip:
If there are safe routes, cycling can extend your transit possibilities compared to walking. You can take your bike on the bus and train for free. You can bring your bike inside at HFA. There are bike racks, lockers and showers at the Downtown YMCA, which is a 10 minute walk from HFA.