As the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) works to fix problems in their budget, bus riders are afraid that potential solutions for the agency will negatively impact service for citizens.
Johnnie Mosley, founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service, stated on Friday, July 12th, that his organization along with the Memphis Bus Riders Union received word that MATA administration met with bus drivers about the possibility of layoffs and service cuts.
MATA pledged to be more open and transparent with their ridership about changes affecting service, which Mosley said has not changed. However, he believes that both riders and drivers are concerned for the future.
“We’ve been reaching out to various drivers. We reached out to the union to see if we could get any verification or answers,” Mosley said. “In the meantime, we’ve been in close communication with Representative Justin J. Pearson, and we’re trying to figure out whether there are resources or money that the state could have to get MATA out of this situation.”
Following this comment, Erik Stevenson, chief of strategic partnerships and programs for MATA, released this statement:
“With staff and riders, we must consistently share that MATA faces a significant budget deficit resulting from years of increasing costs, decreasing ridership, and flat funding. In August, we’ll begin a thorough engagement process to assist us with the tough decisions that must be made to optimize our transportation system. To maintain our pledge to provide a balanced budget, all options have to be on the table.”
MATA’s interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin reported in her June 2024 CEO report that there is currently a hiring freeze despite their recruitment focuses on a number of open positions such as mechanics and trolley and fixed route operators. She said they are trying their best to “manage with the staff they have.”
In May, the transit authority revealed they had a $60 million deficit, and was “committed to increasing revenue and refining [its] process of spending.”
During their June budget proposal hearing in front of Memphis City Council, Mauldin said their biggest expenses are wages and fringe benefits as they have to offer competitive compensation packages. She also said MATA needed more mechanics, operators, and buses for their fixed routes and MATAPlus services for citizens with disabilities.
They also said a large amount of their budget would go towards installation of the Memphis Innovation Corridor, the first bus rapid transit service in Memphis.
While MATA has presented ways to refine their budget and spending, many riders are unhappy with some of their proposed solutions. Citizens like Mosley fear that the agency may resort to changes that would negatively affect their ridership.
Mosley alluded to the agency’s controversial proposed winter service changes that were presented in 2023. These changes included suspending service after 9 p.m. and suspending a number of routes. MATA’s board ultimately decided to nix these proposals after poor reception from the public.
After advocating on behalf of citizens while these proposals were on the table, Mosley said he hopes that the agency doesn’t resort back to these solutions in hopes of fixing their financial issues.
“The question is: Where are they going to cut?” Mosley said. “We don’t want those cuts to [affect] underserved areas. We don’t want the same plan the board rejected in December. We need MATA to come up with plans on how to increase ridership.”