WeGo is Nashville’s public bus system, operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. It covers all of Davidson County with 36 routes, roughly 1,630 stops, and about 29,700 riders on an average weekday as of 2025. If you’ve lived in a city with real transit infrastructure, WeGo will feel modest. If you’ve heard Nashville has no public transit at all, it will surprise you.
The Network Structure
All routes flow through the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, a two-story facility on 4th Avenue in downtown Nashville with climate-controlled waiting areas, 24 bus bays across two levels, a convenience store, and a donut shop. Every trip that crosses town passes through here. It’s clean, functional, and well-signed.
Routes fall into five categories:
Frequent routes (red on the system map): Eight lines running every 15 minutes or less on major corridors including West End Avenue, Dickerson Pike, and Nolensville Pike. These are the backbone of the system for regular riders.
Local routes (purple): Run every 20 to 60 minutes and connect downtown to neighborhoods and suburbs throughout Davidson County. This includes Route 18 to the airport and Route 34 to Opryland.
Connector routes (gray): Bypass downtown entirely, linking north and south Nashville directly. Useful for cross-town trips that don’t need a downtown transfer.
Express routes (blue): Commuter service to outlying counties including Murfreesboro, Dickson, Springfield, and Clarksville. These typically run only a few trips per day timed for 9-to-5 schedules. One-way fare is $4.25, with a 20-ride pass for $73.50.
WeGo Star: The commuter rail line to Lebanon is technically part of the system but operates completely separately. Weekdays only, rush hours only, $5.25 per ride.
Hours and Frequency
Weekday service generally starts around 5 a.m. and runs to midnight on most routes. Weekend service starts later, ends earlier, and runs less frequently. Federal holidays see Saturday or reduced schedules. The frequent routes operate 7 days a week; many local routes do not run on Sundays at all.
Service on the 8 frequent corridors was boosted in early 2025 using new funding from the “Choose How You Move” transit referendum passed in November 2024. The referendum directs a sales tax surcharge toward transit, and WeGo has already applied some of it to improve headways on high-ridership routes.
How to Pay
WeGo fully moved to digital and contactless payment in 2023, ending paper tickets. Options now include:
Tap to pay: Since August 2025, riders can tap any credit card, debit card, or phone directly on readers at the fare box. No app or account needed.
QuickTicket app: WeGo’s own app lets you load a digital card, check balances, and track buses in real time. Available for iOS and Android.
QuickTicket physical card: A reloadable card available at WeGo Central and some third-party locations.
Cash: Still accepted onboard. Exact change is required on some routes.
Fare structure for local bus service:
- 2-hour pass: $2
- All-day pass: $4 (automatically capped when using the same card)
- Monthly pass: $65
The daily cap is automatic if you tap the same card throughout the day. Ride all day on multiple trips for no more than $4. The monthly $65 cap also applies automatically.
Reduced fares exist for seniors (65+), Medicare card holders, and people with disabilities, but require in-person enrollment at WeGo Central. Starting in late 2025, qualifying low-income residents can get free passes through the Journey Pass program via partner social service agencies.
Tracking and Planning
The WeGo app shows real-time bus locations. Google Maps integrates WeGo data and is reliable for planning routes. The Transit app also works well. Real-time arrival displays exist at busier stops.
Bikes are allowed on buses. All WeGo buses have bike racks mounted on the front, and racks can hold two bikes. There’s no extra charge.
The Wi-Fi and Power Question
All WeGo buses offer free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. In practice, bus Wi-Fi in Nashville is inconsistently reliable, but the outlets work.
Sources
- Wikipedia, “WeGo Public Transit”: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WeGoPublicTransit (updated January 2026)
- NewsChannel 5, “New payment technology adds more options to pay WeGo bus fares” (August 2, 2025): newschannel5.com
- nashvillesmls.com, “Nashville Public Transportation: 6 Ways to Get Around Music City” (February 2025)
- Nashville Banner, “Journey Pass: Free bus fare for low-income riders by WeGo” (September 23, 2025): nashvillebanner.com
- 6th Man Movers Nashville Public Transportation Guide (April 2025): 6thmanmovers.com
- WeGo Public Transit official site: wegotransit.com