Memphis Area Transit Authority
| Company type | Public transit authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Memphis Transit Authority |
| Founded | May 13, 1975 |
| Headquarters | Memphis , United States |
Area served | Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee |
Key people | John Lewis (interim CEO as of 2025) |
| Products | Bus service, paratransit, demand-responsive transit, trolley system |
| Website | www |
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) stands as the leading provider of public transportation in Memphis, Tennessee, operating one of the most extensive transit networks within the state. MATA delivers services to Memphis and surrounding areas in Shelby County through fixed-route buses, paratransit options, demand-responsive transit, and the MATA Trolley system. Oversight is conducted by a seven-member policy board appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Memphis City Council. In , total ridership reached .
Early Operators
In December 1960, confronted with substantial financial losses, the owners of the privately held Memphis Transit Co (MTC)—which succeeded the Memphis Street Railway Company—opted to transfer ownership to the City of Memphis. To finalize this purchase and acquire 40 new air-conditioned GM New Look buses for the newly formed Memphis Transit Authority (MTA), the city issued bonds in January 1961. While MTC continued day-to-day management, a city-appointed board assumed responsibility for setting fares, routes, equipment acquisitions, and contracts.
Over subsequent years, MTA upgraded its bus fleet, favoring GM models after demonstration units of Flxible New Look buses encountered issues with air conditioning performance. Despite these fleet improvements and service expansions—including an additional 15,000 miles of routes—ridership numbers declined during this time.
Formation of MATA
The Memphis Area Transit Authority was created by municipal ordinance on May 13, 1975, superseding the MTA. The governing board expanded from three to seven members and gained authority to engage management firms. Purchasing responsibilities transitioned from MTA’s internal department to a City purchasing agent, influenced partly by negative publicity surrounding decisions made by MTA manager Tom Evans and city administrator Clay Huddleston.
In 1981, reductions in funding from federal, state, and local sources compelled MATA to cut service levels and implement two fare increases by April 1982. By the end of that year, Sunday service was reinstated alongside a public relations campaign aimed at enhancing community perception. The following year, 1983, saw the introduction of MAN articulated buses on heavily traveled routes to lower labor costs; however, these vehicles lacked wheelchair accessibility, drawing criticism.
By 1986, MATA approved plans to transform the struggling Mid-America Mall into a dedicated transit mall featuring bus routes. Due to opposition from stakeholders, alternative solutions such as a replica trolley shuttle and streetcar options were explored. Construction contracts commenced in 1991, leading to trolley service launch in April 1993.
In pursuit of environmental and operational efficiency goals, MATA began investigating hybrid electric buses by 2004. The initial Gillig hybrid vehicles entered service in 2007 under the MATAplus program. By 2010, the hybrid fleet numbered 15 buses with intentions to add another dozen units, targeting a hybrid share of approximately 15 percent.
The Memphis 3.0 Transit Vision initiative started in 2017 in conjunction with the Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan. This multi-phase effort evaluated existing transit infrastructure and outlined both immediate and long-range improvements. The final report released in March 2019 proposed a network for rollout by 2022 alongside a strategic plan extending through 2040.
In 2019, MATA secured a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for planning the Memphis Innovation Corridor—an eight-mile battery-electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route connecting downtown Memphis with the University of Memphis campus. A later $76 million federal grant awarded in 2022 supported vehicle procurement and related infrastructure development. The initial three battery-electric buses arrived in July 2023, with orders placed for an additional 40 units expected by December 2024.
Following Gary Rosenfeld’s departure in February 2024, Deputy CEO Bacarra Mauldin stepped into the role of interim CEO. In May of that year, Mauldin disclosed a $60 million budget shortfall through communication with the Tennessee Comptroller. To mitigate this deficit, the fiscal year 2025 budget eliminated six bus routes and resulted in layoffs affecting 241 staff members—measures that reduced operating expenses by $10 million and received board approval in September. However, after reviewing TransPro’s diagnostic report later that year, Mayor Paul Young replaced all board members in November. The newly appointed board deferred planned service reductions and fare hikes until February 2025.
In January 2025, MATA engaged TransPro for interim staffing support and named John Lewis as interim CEO under an eight-month contract arrangement.
Bus Service
As of May 2025, MATA manages 23 established bus routes, with the majority concluding at the William Hudson Transit Center. These routes are organized based on their weekday service intervals: high frequency (every 30 minutes), medium frequency (hourly), and low frequency (intervals exceeding one hour). Additionally, MATA provides a shuttle service connecting downtown and the University of Memphis to Liberty Park during the Southern Heritage Classic event.
MATA’s historical bus lineup has included models such as the 40-foot AM General buses, RTS, Neoplan articulated vehicles, and NovaBus LFS units. From 1980 until their phase-out in 2010, the NovaBus LFS was the primary choice, subsequently replaced by Gillig Advantage Hybrid buses. Presently, the fixed-route fleet is composed of diesel and diesel-electric Gillig Advantage Low Floor buses, each with a capacity for 40 passengers and outfitted with bike racks, Wi-Fi connectivity, and wheelchair access ramps.
Bus Fleet
| Image | Fleet Numbers | Manufacturer & Model | Year Delivered | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401-460 | Gillig Low Floor | 2003–2011 | 40 ft (12 m) | Underwent refurbishment in 2018. | |
| 3001-3022 | 2011 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | Designed without exit doors; primarily serves MATAPlus and shuttle operations. | ||
| 4001-4040 | Gillig Low Floor Hybrid | 2012–2014 | 40 ft (12 m) | Powered by diesel-electric drivetrains. | |
| 5001-5005 | 2012 | 35 ft (11 m) | Equipped with diesel-electric technology. | ||
| 21701-21715 | Gillig Low Floor | 2017 | 40 ft (12 m) | First batch using a five-digit numbering system indicating service year (2[0]17xx). | |
| 21801-21818 | 2018 | Features plain white exteriors with frameless windows; updated with a white livery displaying the green MATA logo. | |||
| 22201-22203 | Gillig Low Floor Battery | 2022 | Battery-electric propulsion. | ||
| 22301-223xx | Gillig Low Floor | 2023 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | ||
| 20801-20822 | Gillig Low Floor BRT | 2024 | 40 ft (12 m)
Acquired from Sun Tran. |
Active Routes
40 Stage-Lauderdale 'Alice Ave and Benton St' 'Fletcher Trace Pkwy and Stage Rd' 'S Fourth St...' Merged with route 13. 42 Crosstown 'Frayser Plaza' 'Holmes Rd and Hudgins Rd' 'Frayser Blvd...' 50 Poplar 'Hudson Transit Center' 'Exeter Rd and Poplar Ave' Poplar Ave... 52 Jackson 'Methodist Hospital North' Jackson Ave... 53 Summer 'Southwest Tennessee Community College' North Pkwy... 57 Park Primacy Pkwy and Ridgeway Rd McLemore Ave... Replaces routes 17 (McLemore) and 35 (South Parkway). 69 Winchester American Way Transit Center Levi Rd and Oakshire Goodlett Rd... No Sunday or holiday operation. Extends through Boxtown and Westwood neighborhoods. }Trolley
Established in 1993, the Main Street Trolley Line features vintage streetcars operating across three distinct routes: the riverfront, downtown along Main Street, and Madison Avenue. The Madison Avenue route, inaugurated in 2004, was designed as an initial segment of a planned light rail network intended to link downtown Memphis with Memphis International Airport and extend transit services beyond MATA’s jurisdiction.
Following two trolley fires in 2013 and 2014, bus service temporarily replaced the trolley operations. After a hiatus of nearly four years, the Main Street Trolley recommenced in 2018 with vehicles running every 12 minutes. Meanwhile, bus services covered the Riverfront and Madison lines with intervals of 40 and 30 minutes respectively.
On August 18, 2024, MATA halted trolley operations indefinitely due to braking system problems and expensive upgrades advised by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
| Route | Terminals | Major Roads Served | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Union | Hudson Transit Center | Walnut Grove Rd and Racine St | Union Ave, Poplar Ave, Walnut Grove Rd | Covers Binghampton section formerly part of route 53. |
| 2 Madison | University of Memphis | Madison Ave, Cooper St, Southern Ave | 'U of M' branch substitutes route 35 on Southern Ave. | |
| Knight Arnold Rd and Ridgeway Blvd | (Mount Moriah Service)
Madison Ave, Cooper St, Southern Ave, Mount Moriah Rd, Knight Arnold Rd |
No weekend operation; replaces route 21. | ||
| '4 Walker' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Vance Ave, Lauderdale St, South Pkwy' | ||
| '7 Shelby & Holmes' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Shelby Dr and Kirby Parkway' | 'Getwell Rd, Shelby Dr, East Holmes Rd' |
Weekday mornings only from Watkins St and Hudson Transit Center. |
| '8 Chelsea & Highland' | 'Hudson Transit Center' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Chelsea Ave, National St, Highland St' |
Highland and National branches merged in spring 2022 to enhance Highland frequency. |
| '11 Frayser' | 'Yale Rd and Austin Peay Hwy' | 'Thomas St, Frayser Blvd, Yale Rd' |
Provides service to Amazon Facility on New Allen Rd. | |
| '12 Mallory' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Florida St, South Pkwy, Mallory Ave' |
No service on Sundays or holidays. Replaces routes 4 Walker/Alcy. | |
| '16 Southeast Circulator' | 'American Way Transit Center' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Mendenhall Rd, Perkins Rd, Winchester Rd' |
Supersedes routes 22 and 26. |
| '19 Vollintine' | 'Hudson Transit Center' | 'Summer Ave and Mendenhall Rd' | 'Vollintine Ave, Hollywood St, Macon Rd' |
No Sunday or holiday service. Wolfchase branch replaces route 44. |
| '19 Vollintine' (Wolfchase Branch) | 'Hudson Transit Center' | 'Wolfchase Galleria Mall' | 'Vollintine Ave, Hollywood St, Macon Rd, Covington Pike, Raleigh LaGrange Rd, Germantown Pkwy' | |
| '28 Airport' | 'IRS Building Terminal' | 'I-240, Nonconnah Blvd, Winchester Rd, Tchulahoma Rd' |
Consolidates routes 28, 64, 99, and 280; terminates at Memphis International Airport on Sundays. | |
| '30 Brooks' (Shelby Branch) | 'Third St and Eastman St' | 'Riverdale Bend and Winchester Rd' | 'Brooks Rd, Democrat Rd, American Way, Getwell Rd, Swinnea Rd, Shelby Dr, Riverdale Rd' |
Partial replacement of route 26; extended to Winchester/Riverdale area. |
| '30 Brooks' (Holmes Branch) |
Brooks Rd, Democrat Rd, American Way, Getwell Rd, Arnold Rd, Tchulahoma Rd, Holmes Rd, Hickory Hill Rd, Kirby Pkwy |
|||
| '32 Hollywood & Hawkins Mill' | 'Airways Transit Center' | 'Frayser Plaza' | 'Airways Blvd, East Pkwy, N Hollywood St, Range Line Rd, N Watkins St' |
Hawkins Mill branch takes over from route 18. |
| '34 Central & Walnut Grove' | 'Hudson Transit Center' | 'Humphreys Blvd and Walnut Grove Rd' | 'Vance Ave, Lamar Ave, Central Ave, Highland St, Walnut Grove Rd' |
No Sunday or holiday service. Replaces route 5 on Central Ave. Serves Baptist Hospital. |
| '36 Lamar' (Kimball Branch) | 'Centennial Dr and Hacks Cross Rd' |
Vance Ave, Lamar Ave... 36A covers Kimball Ave replacing route 56; 36B serves Knight Arnold branch. | ||
| (Knight Arnold Branch) |
Vance Ave... | |||
| '37 Perkins' | 'American Way Transit Center' | 'Yale Rd and Austin Peay Hwy' |
Getwell Rd... No service on Sundays. Connects to American Way Transit Center. | |
| '39 South Third' (Horn Lake Branch) | 'Hudson Transit Center' | Jonetta St and Holmes Rd |
Third St... Horn Lake branch replaces southern segment of route 12. | |
| (Weaver and Third Branch) |
Third St... | |||
| Line | Inaugurated | Stops | Distance | Endpoints | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| █ | Main Street Line | 1993 | 13 | 2.0 mi (3.2 km) | Butler Avenue – North End Terminal |
| █ | Riverfront Loop | 1997 | 19 | 4.1 mi (6.6 km) | none |
| █ | Madison Avenue Line | 2004 | 6 | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | Third Street – Cleveland Station |
MATAplus
MATAplus delivers a shared-ride paratransit service specifically for individuals with disabilities within Memphis. It covers the same geographic area and hours as MATA’s fixed-route buses, extending up to three-quarters of a mile beyond those established routes. The service offers Advance/Demand Response scheduling options as well as a subscription plan designed for frequent travelers.
On-demand service
Introduced in February 2021, Groove On-Demand replaced the former Route 500 commuter bus jointly operated by MATA and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. Backed by the Downtown Memphis Commission, Groove provides transportation throughout Downtown, the Medical District, New Chicago, and President's Island areas using technology developed by Via Transportation.
Launched in August 2021 as part of MATA’s Transit Vision overhaul, Ready! by MATA operates within three designated zones: Zone 1 includes Boxtown, Westwood, and Whitehaven; Zone 2 covers Northaven and Frayser; Zone 3 serves Cordova. Reservations are made similarly to ride-hailing services with payment accepted through the GO901 app or cash; fares correspond to those on fixed-route buses. Ready! runs Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In October 2023, Groove recorded ridership of 11,105 passengers. Ready! reported usage figures of 5,343 riders in Southwest Memphis, 2,248 in Northaven/Frayser, and 591 in Cordova.
Fares
Since June 20, 2020, MATA has implemented a uniform fare of $1 for all rides, with a reduced fare of $0.50 available for seniors and individuals with disabilities. A Daily Fast Pass can be purchased for $2 ($1 for eligible seniors and disabled riders), while the 7-day and 31-day passes have been temporarily discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, up to three children under the age of five may travel free when accompanied by a paying passenger.
In September 2020, MATA introduced GO901, a mobile application that allows users to buy fares and day passes using debit or credit cards. Complementing this digital advancement, free WiFi service was rolled out on vehicles starting December 2019. On August 21, 2023, the GO901 Smart Card was unveiled, which can be reloaded through the app or kiosks located at transit centers. This card supports pay-as-you-go transactions and offers an option for automatic replenishment.
Facilities
MATA's headquarters are situated on the 12th floor of One Commerce Square, with additional leased office space acquired in 2023 to accommodate staff working on capital projects. The Trolley Operations and Maintenance facility is located at 547 North Main Street. Meanwhile, the operations center and maintenance garage for road vehicles, established in 1981 on a former landfill site, can be found at 1370 Levee Road.
The authority owns three transit centers—two of which provide parking facilities—as well as one park-and-ride lot. Various shopping malls also function as informal park-and-ride locations.
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Hudson Transit Center | 444 North Main Street | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | Primary hub of the system and downtown transfer point; previously known as North End Terminal. |
| Central Station | 545 South Main Street | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | Southern transfer location for routes 12, Riverfront Loop Trolley, Main Street Trolley; offers connections to Amtrak services. |
| American Way Transit Center | 3921 American Way | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | Suburban transfer hub serving routes 7, 8, 16, 30, 36, 37, and 69. |
| Airways Transit Center | 3033 Airways Boulevard | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | Southern transfer point for routes 4, 12, 16, 28, 30, and 32; also accommodates Greyhound Lines, Jefferson Lines, and Megabus services. |
| Madison Park-and-Ride Lot | Madison Avenue at Claybrook Street | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. | Supports routes 2 and 42 along with the Madison Avenue Line. |
Fixed route ridership
The ridership statistics include only fixed-route bus and streetcar services and do not account for demand response operations.
See also
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Memphis Area Transit Authority
- Bus transportation in Arkansas
- Bus transportation in Tennessee
- Government agencies established in 1975
- 1975 establishments in Tennessee
- Heritage streetcar systems
- Intermodal transportation authorities in Tennessee
- Intermodal transportation authorities in Arkansas
- Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee
- Transit agencies in Arkansas