Just another comment...

My understanding is that to expand the transit system around Nashville (to areas like Franklin and Goodlettsville) would require the city to negotiate rights-of-way with CSX. Either that or build their own lines -- which is even more expensive in the long term.

Something's gotta give, however. You can't just keep widening interstates indefinitely. In this case, I don't know that the Music City Star is going to be a real success, but it's an important milestone. For starters, as a resident of southern Davidson, there aren't many points east that I'd want or need to access, and once I got there, the local transit isn't exactly convenient. It's not like I could just hop off and get where I wanted to go on foot. Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, & Hermitage aren't exactly pedestrian-friendly, y'know.

If I lived out in the eastern burbs, though, I'd probably consider using heavy rail to get to work, especially if my employer would subsidize it (like they do for parking today).

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On tops of mountains, as everywhere to hopeful souls, it is always morning. --H. Thoreau

I don't think the difference in rail gauge would permit mixed use, but it sure would be a cool use of existing infrastructure.

The Nashville train uses existing rail lines. I am not sure if they were able to use the rails as-is, or if they had to change the gauge and only use the existing bed.