East Bank infrastructure is a critical component to the start of one of the most ambitious modern-day development opportunities for the State. In a recent Transportation and Infrastructure committee meeting, Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes explained that there is actually no sewer pumping capacity on the East Bank; with the exception of a small purpose-built pump station within the existing Nissan Stadium. To that end, legislation is being proposed for a new $30 Million sewage pump station located between Woodland Street and James Robertson Parkway.
While the Titans had originally planned to build a similar small sewer pump station inside the new stadium, there is a greater need for the overall East Bank. To address this need at-large, the O’Connell administration proposed legislation to enter into a participation agreement between Metro and the Titans to share in the cost to build a larger sewer pump station. The new pump station will be located near the planned WeGo Transit Hub.
“We put a lot of energy into figuring out how much of the capacity in the new station the Titan stadium would use, and it comes out to 20% as the expected usage; so the Titans are going to pay 20% of the construction cost and Metro will pay the balance. That reflects the idea that instead of putting capacity in the football stadium, it’ll be combined with Metro’s and we’ll do it together.”, says Mendes.
To keep the stadium construction on track the Titans will build the new $30 Million pump station. In terms of the 80-20 split in financing, Mendes emphasized that the Titans would spend their money first and then Metro will come in after that. The money from Metro will come from the water department’s cash reserves. He also noted that they’ve got cash on hand to be able to do that.
A companion piece was also presented to the Sewage Pump Station legislation to help Metro recover costs. It establishes a Central East Bank redevelopment area and authorizes the recovery of costs incurred in constructing sewer pumping and conveyance facilities necessary to serve the redevelopment area. This sewage infrastructure cost recovery charge will be applicable to properties within the area.
This piece of legislation is designed to have Metro recover the 80% participation for developments within the sewer pump station zone. As new development comes online in that zone there will be an estimate of how much flow they’ll use through the sewer pump station and on a pro rata basis. The idea is that over an approximate 15-20 year period, as the area develops, Metro should recover all of the cost plus the debt and interest on that debt to the extent that there is any incurred. Additionally, this pumping station is being built with extra space. So if other parts of the East Bank saw more intense usage, “say the scrap yard one day for example”, there’s room for additional pumping capacity to be built into the station later on.
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