Memphis Area Transit Authority

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For other uses, see MATA.

Memphis Area Transit Authority
MATA logo.png
MATA bus 855.jpg
Founded1975
HeadquartersMemphis, Tennessee
Service area280 square miles (730 km2)
Service typePublic transit:
bus
trolley
Routes24 bus, 3 trolley
DestinationsMemphis, Germantown, Bartlett, and Lakeland, Tennessee
Annual ridership2,824,900 (2021)[1]
Fuel typeDiesel (for buses) Electric (for trolleys)
Chief executiveGary Rosenfeld
Websitematatransit.com

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provider for Memphis, Tennessee. It is one of the largest transit providers in the state of Tennessee; MATA transports customers in the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County on fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles, demand-responsive service, and the MATA Trolley system. The system is managed by a seven-member policy board appointed by the mayor and approved by the Memphis City Council.[2] In 2021, the system had a ridership of 2,824,900.

History[edit]

The system was formed in 1975 to service the greater Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee area. In the past, its roster included GM TDH-5300 and TDH-4500 "New Looks" and Flxible 40-102 New Look series (carryovers from its predecessor prior to MATA's formation), AM General 40 ft., MAN articulateds, the RTS series from GM, TMC and NovaBus, Neoplan artics, and NovaBus LFS low floors buses. The RTS series were MATA's preferred fleet of choice, having been used in its lineup from February 1980 until its retirement in April 2010, when the six remaining 1994 NovaBus versions were replaced with the Gillig Advantage Hybrids. MATA hopes to shift to a hybrid fleet in the future.[3]

In February 2019, MATA decided to award a contract to Innovations in Transportation for a new fare system, and a contract to LECIP and Trapeze Software Group for new fareboxes.[4] However, MATA ended up using a system by americaneagle.com for mobile app ticketing. The app, GO901, was launched in November 2020 and allows users to buy and utilize tickets and passes from their phone. In conjunction with the app, MATA started offering free WiFi on vehicles starting in December 2019.[5][6]

In June 2021, MATA passed a resolution to cancel a contract with First Transit for transport management services and replace it with a contract with RATP Dev. USA. Under the contract with First Transit, all MATA employees were employed by Midsouth Transportation Management, a subsidiary of First Transit. MATA's operational environment won't be majorly changed by contract change.[7]

mConnect[edit]

Development for the mConnect bus rapid transit line started in May 2014, when the Midtown Alternatives Analysis study was initiated by MATA. The goal of the study was to pick a locally preferred alternative for high capacity transit in Midtown. Completed in 2016, the study decided upon a route between downtown and U of M via Union and Poplar.[8]

In 2017, MATA released the Transit Vision plan, which called for an additional $30 million of funding to overhaul the bus system and improve frequency.[9]

In 2019, MATA started designing the Innovation Corridor, which mConnect is the center of. In the same year, the U.S. DOT awarded MATA a $12 million grant to fund the construction of mConnect.[8][10]

In 2020, a $46 million grant application was submitted to the FTA. MATA received a favorable rating on the submission in 2022.[8][11]

Operations[edit]

Rail[edit]

Main article: MATA Trolley

Initially opened in 1993, the Main Street Trolley Line uses classic streetcars on a system that has grown to three routes: one along the riverfront, another serving Main Street in the heart of downtown Memphis, and an extension on Madison Avenue. The Madison Avenue line opened in 2004,[12] as the initial stage of a light rail system that would connect downtown Memphis with the Memphis International Airport and eventually to regional transit service beyond the MATA service boundaries.

Service was replaced by buses after two trolleys caught fire in late 2013 and early 2014. After nearly four years, the Main Street Trolley Line was reinstated in 2018.[13][14]

Currently, MATA offers trolley line services seven days a week. The Main Street Line operates trolleys with 12-minute headways throughout the day. The Riverfront Line and Madison Line operate buses with 40-minute and 30-minute headways respectively.[15]

MATA has 5 operable trolleys, but only 4 are operated at a time.[16]

Line Opened Stations Length Termini
█ Main Street Line 1993 13 2.0 mi (3.2 km)[citation needed] Butler Avenue – North End Terminal
█ Riverfront Loop 1997 19 4.1 mi (6.6 km)[citation needed] none
█ Madison Avenue Line 2004 6 2.2 mi (3.5 km)[citation needed] Third Street – Cleveland Station

Bus[edit]

See also: List of MATA Bus Routes

MATA operates 24 fixed-route bus routes. On MATA's system map, bus routes are organized into three categories based on rush hour frequency: high frequency routes have 30 minute weekday frequency, medium frequency routes have 60 minute weekday frequency, and low frequency routes have greater than 60 minute weekday frequency.[17]

The MATA fixed-route fleet consists of 122[16] Gillig Advantage Low Floor buses. All of the buses have bike racks on the front of the vehicle.[18] They are also all equipped with WiFi.[19][20]

MATAplus[edit]

MATAplus is a shared ride paratransit service designed to meet the transportation needs of persons with disabilities in the Memphis service area. The service covers the same area as the MATA bus system and operate during the same days and hours as the fixed-route bus system in the same area. The service area extends three-fourths (3/4) of a mile beyond the fixed-routes, which means that anywhere beyond the area mentioned can not qualify for MATAplus services.[21] Two types of services are offered through MATAplus: Advance/Demand Response, which allows riders to book reservations in advance, and a subscription service that allows riders to use the service to take them to their destination and back.

On-Demand[edit]

Groove On-Demand is an on-demand service launched in February 2021. It is the successor to MATA and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC)'s Route 500 commuter bus. The current service also includes the Downtown Memphis Commission as a major supporter. Groove serves Downtown, the Medical District, New Chicago, and President's Island. Groove operates using software from Via Transportation.[22][23][24]

Ready! by MATA is an on-demand service launched in August 2021. It is a one-year pilot program that was implemented as a part of Transit Vision. Ready! serves three zones. Zone 1 covers the neighborhoods of Boxtown, Westwood, and Whitehaven. Zone 2 consists of Northaven and Frayser. Zone 3 in mostly in Cordova. Reservations works similarly to ride hailing services, but payments can be made through the GO901 app or in-person with cash. Fares are the same as fixed route buses. Ready! operates Monday-Saturday, 6am-7pm.[25][26][27]

Fares[edit]

Since June 20, 2020, the full fare is $1, the senior/disabled fare is $0.50, and the 24-hour pass is $1 or $2. Up to three kids under 5 can board for free with fare-paying rider.[28][29]

GO901[edit]

GO901 is a mobile fare app that launched in September 2020. It allows users to purchase fares and day passes using debit and credit cards.[30][31]

Ridership[edit]

In 2021, MATA served a total of approximately 5.4 million passengers. Of those passengers, approximately 70,000 were from the trolley system and 1.1 million were from MATAplus.[32]

Facilities[edit]

MATA owns three transit centers, two of which have parking, and one park-and-ride lot.[33] MATA also designates several malls as unofficial park-and-ride lots on its map.[17]

Name Location Coordinates Notes
William Hudson Transit Center 444 North Main Street 35°09′23.5″N 90°02′52″W / 35.156528°N 90.04778°W / 35.156528; -90.04778 Serves as the chief hub of the system and main transfer point for all downtown routes. Formerly known as the North End Terminal.
Central Station 545 South Main Street 35°07′57″N 90°03′34″W / 35.132451017421246°N 90.0594047224094°W / 35.132451017421246; -90.0594047224094 Serves as a southern transfer point for routes 12, Riverfront Loop Trolley, and the Main Street Trolley as well as the connection point for Amtrak in Memphis.
American Way Transit Center 3921 American Way 35°04′33.7″N 89°55′58.7″W / 35.076028°N 89.932972°W / 35.076028; -89.932972 Serves as a suburban transfer location for routes: 7,8,16,30,36,37, and 69.
Airways Transit Center 3033 Airways Boulevard 35°03′42″N 89°59′34″W / 35.061772650673234°N 89.99269438088662°W / 35.061772650673234; -89.99269438088662 Serves a southern transfer point for routes: 4,12,16,28,30,32, as well as Greyhound and Megabus.
Madison Park-and-Ride Lot Madison Avenue at Claybrook Street 35°08′22″N 90°01′03″W / 35.139384172073186°N 90.01761374936835°W / 35.139384172073186; -90.01761374936835 Serves the nearby routes 2 and 42, and the Madison Avenue Line.[17]

Maintenance[edit]

MATA owns two facilities at which it maintains its buses, trolleys, and other road vehicles. The Trolley Maintenance Facility is located at 547 North Main Street. The road vehicle maintenance facility is located at 1370 Levee Road.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 10, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Inside MATA – About Us | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  3. ^ MATA website.
  4. ^ "Memphis Area Transit Authority Board of Commissioners – Regular Meeting February 26, 2019" (PDF). matatransit.com. February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Americaneagle.com to Develop 'Next-Gen' Fare System for Memphis Area Transit Authority". americaneagle.com. November 7, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "MATA launches new GO901 mobile pay app". localmemphis.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Memphis Area Transit Authority Board of Commissioners – Regular Meeting June 22, 2021" (PDF). matatransit.com. June 22, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b c "About". memphisinnovationcorridor.com. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Dries, Bill (April 28, 2017). "MATA Prepares Case for $30M Increase To Fund Bus System Improvements". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "MATA receives $12 million grant toward Bus Rapid Transit project". actionnews5.com. November 6, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Butkovich, Gina (February 28, 2022). "MATA receives favorable rating on $46 million federal grant for Bus Rapid Transit". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Madison rail line to open March 15". Memphis Business Journal. March 11, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "Trolleys Return to Main Street at End of April". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "MATA trolleys off the tracks for expensive safety overhaul". WREG.com. June 13, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Trolley Routes – Trolley | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "City of Memphis 2020 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). transit.dot.gov. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "MATA System Map-November 2021" (PDF). matatransit.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "Bike and Ride – Riders Information | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Go901 WiFi FAQs" (PDF). Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "MATA announces addition of WiFi to all vehicles". FOX13 News Memphis. December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  21. ^ "Service Area – MATAplus | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  22. ^ "Groove On-Demand". Downtown Memphis. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "New on-demand public transit service Groove On-Demand launches in Memphis". Via Transportation. February 3, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Staff, Action News 5. "Groove On-demand rideshare service launching in Downtown Memphis". actionnews5.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Ready – Ready! | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "MATA to Launch Curb-to-Curb Transit Service, Ready! by MATA". localmemphis.com. July 30, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "MATA rolling out Ready! transportation service to Memphis neighborhoods Monday". WREG.com. August 2, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "MATA ending free fares, making multiple changes to current operations". www.actionnews5.com. June 11, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "MATA Bus Cash Fare | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  30. ^ "MATA launches new GO901 mobile pay app". localmemphis.com. September 17, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "FAQs | GO901TRANSIT.com". www.go901transit.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "Monthly Module Raw Data Release". www.transit.dot.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ "Parking Information - Riders Information | MATATransit.com". www.matatransit.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.

External links[edit]

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