Better Transit for a Better Memphis Demands Transparency From The City Following Meetings with MATA Trustee: Where is the Money and the Service?

MEMPHIS, TN — On July 15, Better Transit for A Better Memphis (BTBM) met with Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Trustee, Rodrick Holmes and attended the August 4 special City Council Transportation Committee presentation where he gave a glowing, but more aspirational than fully accurate, progress report. Most of our questions submitted to the Council were not asked of Holmes nor answered. Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM) is expressing deep skepticism over the City Council and City Mayor’s commitment to improving MATA’s operational capacity, financial management, and long-term vision.

In 2025, Mayor Paul Young proposed that our coalition meet directly with MATA’s leadership. Over the last 9 months, BTBM has met with Interim CEO Rodrick Holmes and his staff to advocate for riders and discuss what we have identified as the necessary investments improvements needed to make our public transit service reliable and accessible. BTBM recognizes recent operational improvements, including additional buses entering service, new bus stop signage, new shelters, and improvements in MATAPlus performance. However, these gains should be viewed as important steps toward stabilization—not as substitutes for the long-term investment needed to fully implement the Transit Vision Plan and restore frequent, reliable service.

While MATA leadership highlighted several operational and infrastructure improvements. BTBM remains highly concerned that the transit authority is failing to address Memphis’ most pressing obstacle: economic mobility through high-value route frequency that serves all Memphians, including our disabled, elderly, and paratransit-dependent neighbors.  By “high value frequency” routes BTBM means bus routes that operate often enough—typically every 15 to 20 minutes—to allow riders to travel to work, school, healthcare, and other essential destinations without excessive wait times.

"MATA continues to make improvements to infrastructure, but is not meaningfully working on high-value route frequency. In other words, they are not working to create a solution to Memphis’ problem of economic mobility. We need a human-centered system with routes that get folks—especially our seniors and neighbors with disabilities—to workplaces, healthcare, training centers, and recreational areas. As Memphis sits on or squanders historic Federal dollars, we risk losing all credibility with potential future funders." — Allison Donald, Co-Chair for BTBM and Advocate for Disability Connection Midsouth

Infrastructure Band-Aids vs. Real Route Frequency

During the July 15 meeting, MATA leadership touted several operational and infrastructure metrics, which BTBM views as "band-aids" on a structurally deficient system:

• Signs & Shelters: MATA installed 110 new bus stop signs and 16 new shelters. While helpful, these cosmetic updates do not help a passenger if the bus only arrives once an hour.

• The Fleet Deficit: MATA reported that 51 buses are required daily to run its current 23 fixed routes. Out of 12 newly purchased buses, only 6 are currently in service, and the trolley fleet remains completely grounded while undergoing braking system testing.

• Personnel & Paratransit Bottlenecks: Though MATA boasts recruiting partnerships with TCAT and Moore Tech, graduating classes yield only 3 to 5 new operators per cycle—hardly enough to rapidly scale up high-value route frequency or properly alleviate the strain on our vital MATA Plus paratransit services.

• The High-Value Frequency Deficit: BTBM defines "high-value frequency" as buses running every 15 to 20 minutes on key routes. Current schedules force workers, high school and college students, seniors, and disabled riders to spend hours waiting, destroying economic mobility.

• Hidden Failures: MATA continues to lack transparency around daily service quality, on-time performance metrics, and the real impact of operator shortages.

The $140 Million Question:

What Happened to the Promised Transit Investments?

A primary point of skepticism for BTBM is the city’s stewardship of massive federal funding injections. Despite receiving historic windfalls, everyday riders, particularly those relying on fixed-income and specialized mobility services, have seen very little of the promised transformative service. BTBM is seeking greater transparency regarding the status of these federal investments, including which projects are underway, which have been completed, and what timelines remain.

• The $76 Million Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Fund: This critical grant includes $54 million designated for a new operations and maintenance facility, and $22 million for clean electric buses and charging infrastructure. Conversations we’ve had with TN Rep Cohen suggest this grant was canceled, but does not confirm the status of matching funds the grant would’ve required of the city.

• The Memphis Innovation Corridor (mConnect): An additional $63.8 million (supported by BUILD Act funding) was designated to construct the high-frequency transit line connecting Downtown to the Medical District and the University of Memphis.

• The Transit and Mobility Special Revenue Fund - in 2022, the City Council passed ordinance 5830 which established a dedicated funding source for transit and mobility over and above annual general fund contributions that are required to meet the implementation goals of Transit Vision. We call on city leadership to update the public on the status of this fund and to utilize it for its intended purpose. 

With millions of dollars supposedly on the table for years, the slow pace of execution raises severe questions about MATA's organizational competence.

Underfunded and Reluctant Leadership

The financial strain on MATA is undeniable, yet transit advocates question the agency's advocacy for itself.

• The Funding Gap:  BTBM believes approximately $52 million in local operating support is needed to restore service toward pre-pandemic levels and advance the goals outlined in the Transit Vision Plan.

• Reluctant Advocacy: Trustee Rodrick Holmes has historically been reluctant to aggressively pursue necessary funding from the city council. While BTBM is glad to hear that discussions have finally begun to request a $5 million annual investment from Shelby County, this piecemeal approach does not fill the critical investments needed.

• Leadership Shakeups: The announcement that Art Davis will replace Walter Person as MATA’s Chief Financial Officer comes at a time of high anxiety regarding the agency’s budget transparency and the threat of federal transit block-grant shifts. This especially concerns BTBM as Mayor Young asked us to meet with both Trustees, and to this date we have only met with Holmes. 

BTBM appreciates MATA's commitment to share its finalized FY 2025–2026 budget once revenue projections are complete. Moving forward, BTBM encourages regular public reporting on capital projects, operational performance, revenue projection, federal grant expenditures, and Transit Vision Plan implementation so riders, taxpayers, and elected officials can clearly understand how progress is being measured.

BTBM Core Demands

BTBM calls on the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and MATA leadership to take immediate action:

1. Fair, Dedicated Transit Funding Fully Fund Transit: City Council and Shelby County must step up to provide the $52 million local operating budget required to execute the 2018 Transit Vision Plan, an amount that may increase, after Transit Vision is updated. They must also secure a permanent, dedicated local revenue source for public transit, such as the $10 million Auto fee being restricted to MATA, on top of the current amount allocated.

2. Transparent and Ethical Governance - We demand that MATA leadership aggressively lobby for full funding and establish complete transparency regarding system performance, route cancellations, and wait times.

3. Rider Power in Transit Decisions: Immediately reinstate the MATA Board and instate a Specialized Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) to ensure disabled, elderly, and paratransit riders have a direct seat at the table. The City Council should set transit at the top of their meetings and allow daily riders to speak to enable them to leave in time to catch a bus home or to work.

BTBM continues to call for:

• Reappointment of the full MATA Board including one being appointed by the County government.

• Full implementation of the 2018 Transit Vision Plan updated with a revised budget..

• A long-term dedicated funding source for public transit.

• Continued transparency regarding federal investments and project timelines.

• Meaningful rider engagement through the restoration of the Specialized Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC).

About Better Transit for a Better Memphis:

Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM) is a grassroots coalition of riders, workers, and community advocates dedicated to fighting for a human-centered, equitable, reliable, and transparently funded public transit system that ensures accessibility for all Memphians, including our elderly and disabled neighbors.