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Bus Riders Call For Resignation of MATA CEO

Photo: Justin Fox Burks


Public transportation groups have called for Memphis Area Transit Authority’s (MATA) interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin to resign, following the agency’s decision to suspend routes and increase fares.

“Bacarra Mauldin, the Interim CEO of MATA, is part of the old leadership which has caused the problems at MATA for years,” said Johnnie Mosley, president of Citizens for Better Service. “If it is true, as she claims, that she sat two doors from her predecessor without knowledge of MATA’s financial operations, it does not reflect well on her leadership. Therefore, she must not be trusted to lead MATA out of the wilderness.”

Sammie Hunter, co-chair of the Memphis Bus Riders Union, said they believe MATA is more concerned about its leadership than its riders. Hunter said they do not trust Mauldin’s leadership.  

“It is time for Bacarra Mauldin to go,” Cynthia Bailey, the other co-chair of Memphis Bus Riders Union, added.

MATA has put several cost-saving measures into effect in hopes of addressing the agency’s financial woes and improving its viability, but the measures haven’t stopped members of the public from voicing their concerns.

At its Tuesday board meeting, the MATA board decided to cut six bus routes, including Route 16 Southeast Circulator, Route 28 Airport, Route 34 Central and Walnut Grove, Route 37 Perkins, Route 69 Winchester, and Zone 3 Cordova Ready! On Demand. The cuts will go into effect November 3rd.

“No one wants to recommend this service reduction,” John Lancaster, MATA’s chief development officer, said. “It is essentially a financial consideration.” Lancaster added that the cuts are a balance between finance and equipment.

The agency held 19 public meetings prior to the board meeting to discuss the changes. After hearing from the community, the agency said many had a desire to maintain the current bus service, and they wanted service to last longer, and an improved on-time performance.

“The public hasn’t changed in what they want and what they need. It’s just our ability to deliver these services,” Lancaster said.

In addition to route suspensions, the board also decided to raise fares for MATA’s fixed-route buses. Adult base fare will be $1.75 compared to the current fare of $1.00. The increases also affect fares for students, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Fares for FastPasses were also increased.

The last time the agency increased its fares was in 2011.

Citizens for Better Service and the Memphis Bus Riders Union have long been vocal about service changes and how they adversely affect the public. They voiced concern when the agency announced it had a $60 million deficit, and criticized MATA for the termination of more than 200 employees as a result of a newly approved budget.

The groups said that the cuts send a mesage to riders and drivers “that [the board] is in favor of service cuts and layoffs.”

A MATA spokesperson said MATA officials were unavailable for comments.

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MATA CEO Discusses State of Transit, Budget, and Proposed Changes

Baccarra Mauldin (Photo: Memphis Area Transit Authority)

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) has gone through significant change over the past few months, prompting questions from concerned citizens and bus riders alike.

Bacarra Mauldin was named interim CEO following the retirement of former CEO Gary Rosenfeld in February. Mauldin’s appointment followed the aftermath of the agency opting to nix their controversial proposed winter service changes.

Since those proposed changes that were presented as a way to enhance the agency’s on-time performance and efficiency, other problems have arisen, such as a $60 million deficit that was announced in May.

Mauldin said the agency is going through a “transformation” dedicated to serving Memphis and their entire service area in the best way possible.

Having worked in transit prior to arriving at MATA, Mauldin said she would call the current state of affairs “business unusual.”

“I say that as a play on ‘business as usual’ because so many transit agencies across the country are going through the same thing — at various levels and proportions,” Mauldin said. “They’re all going through their ‘isms’ when it comes to budget, and funding, and finance.”

Ridership has plummeted as a result of Covid-19, playing a major factor in the state of transit, Mauldin said. Agencies are also in the aftermath of Covid-19 relief funds running out.

“That really propelled the state of financial instability for transit agencies across the country, large and small,” Mauldin said.

Mauldin said the agency’s debt has been growing due to the increased cost of doing business, decreased ridership, and flat funding. She added that their budget holds have resulted in slower on-time performance.

One of the first things Mauldin did in her official capacity was to retain the services of external CFO Hamish Davidson of J.S. Held LLC. Mauldin said up until this point, there had not been a CFO at the agency, and they needed someone to get in immediately to recreate those financials so they could “move forward with certainty.”

“Knowing good business, and what good business structure and practices look like, I made the decision early on that I needed a reputable, credible CFO to come in and rebuild the finances because the finances hadn’t been reported in quite some time,” Mauldin said. “In fact the financial reports didn’t even exist.”

In addition to this, Mauldin said the agency immediately put “cost-saving measures” into effect. MATA hopes to bring the CFO position in-house “in time.”

“The cost-saving measures will probably be a permanent thing,” Mauldin said. “We are stewards of taxpayer’s money, and we want to make sure we are always using those in the best way, and operating in transparency and good faith.”

As a result of acting in transparency, the agency has made both employees and riders aware of some of the potential changes that could take place in order to improve efficiency, performance, and the budget.

“If we were to keep operating the way we’re operating today, our budget would be $85 million,” Mauldin said. “We have committed to our board that we were going to present a balanced budget. We presented a draft budget of $67 million for FY25.”

These cuts have impacted routes, staffing, and other factors, Mauldin said. While she said these changes “hurt,” the agency has to have a “solid, sustainable foundation” to thrive.

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MATA Presents Budget Proposal to City Council

Photo: Justin Fox Burks

The Memphis Area Transit Authority has requested $30,670,000 from the Memphis City Council for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25.) This meeting comes weeks after it was revealed that MATA had a $60 million deficit.

MATA is projecting $65,219,738 in revenue for FY25, with federal grants and contributions from the city and county government contributing major portions. The agency said the city is the primary provider of operating funds.

Despite a budget gap, the agency said it is committed to increasing revenue and “refining [its] process of spending.”

“We recognize that there is a gap,” said MATA interim CEO Baccara Mauldin who, with other agency officials, faced the council Tuesday afternoon for the budget hearing. 

“As the leader of MATA, personally and professionally, I own what I’ve inherited,” Mauldin said. “I own the problems but I also own the engineering of the fix. I’m holding the steering wheel on what will drive Memphis and MATA to a better mobility.”

Prior to her presentation, Mauldin said transparency and fiscal responsibility are two of her core leadership values, and as a result, she retained the services of an “external CFO” on her second day in office. Hamish Davidson of J.S. Held LLC joined Mauldin during the presentation.

Mauldin said the proposed budget for FY25 is $84,211,321, with its largest expense being wages and fringe benefits. She added that due to the nature of the work, the agency has to be more competitive with compensation packages. The CEO also emphasized MATA’s need for mechanics and operators.

In addition to needing competitive compensation packages, MATA says it needs more buses for fixed routes and MATAPlus services for citizens with disabilities. A large amount will go towards installation of the Memphis Innovation Corridor, which is the first bus rapid transit service in Memphis.

Mauldin reminded the council that these adjustments and changes are vital to having a “complete mobility system” in the city. She also said she would meet with council members and host town halls with constituents.

“It’s going to take some time, because we want to make sure that we reach every community through this process, that we get to talk to each one of you as well as our other stakeholders,” Mauldin said. “We really want to make sure that at the end of the day the reimagining of what transit looks like is a process and a plan we can all get behind, and know that we played a part in it.”

After the presentation, numerous council members posed questions regarding the expansion of MATA services to other communities such as the I-40 corridor, accountability measures, and increasing the electric vehicle fleet.

Prior to the dismissal of MATA’s team from the presentation, Councilman Chase Carlisle said, “The city of Memphis, the Memphis City Council is fully committed to supporting MATA. It is critical to core services and workforce development and opportunity. The city is committed to funding MATA at the level it’s always funded. I know the council is committed to that. I don’t think anybody has any intentions on reducing. The city of Memphis, at least the city council, is fully committed to funding at the level it’s always funded, and I look forward to the reimagining process,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle added that COVID changed the way the city looked at and operated on-demand services, and said the city has a “great opportunity” to reimagine it.

The council did not question MATA about the deficit which left some citizens “dissatisfied.” Cynthia Bailey, co-chair of the Memphis Bus Riders Union, said city council should not let MATA off the hook.

“The Memphis City Council must send a strong [message] to MATA that they are going to hold MATA accountable for past and future funding,” Sammie Hunter, co-chair of the Memphis Bus Riders Union added.