MATA ending West Memphis run March 31

MATA ending West Memphis run March 31

MATA cites lack of funding, falling ridership numbers as reason for termination of bus service to city

Memphis Area Transit Authority The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) and the City of West Memphis have announced plans to terminate bus service to West Memphis due to a lack of funding. The last day of service for Route 77-West Memphis, Route 98-West Memphis Express, and West Memphis MATAplus is Saturday, March 31.

During the last 20 years, the City of West Memphis has used Transitional Employment Assistance Coalition (TEA), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and, most recently, Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant funds to provide bus service to the residents of West Memphis. The last time JARC funds were apportioned was in 2012.

Funding after 2012 was provided in the form of small allotments of unobligated JARC funds from previous years. With the help of partnerships formed with MATA, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), and the West Memphis Advertising and Promotions Committee, the allotments were stretched to provide an additional five years of service.

As funding decreased, service was reduced and as a result, ridership declined.

For example, nearly 91,000 customers rode in 2001 and ridership hit an all-time high of 280,386 customers in 2009, but plunged significantly over the past several years. Last year, only about 76,000 customers rode MATA buses on the West Memphis routes.

After JARC funds were no longer allocated, bus routes were modified to accommodate the decreasing budget. However, since the last route change in August 2017, average monthly ridership to West Memphis has continued to decrease.

For example, ridership dropped from 11.1 to 9.6 passengers per hour since August.

Paul Luker, the City of West Memphis Director of Planning and Development, says he is disappointed that the bus service is ending for West Memphis residents.

“The bus service helped some of our most vulnerable populations access school, work, grocery stores, and banks. Unfortunately, funding for transportation has decreased which has left us in a powerless situation. MATA, ARDOT, and the West Memphis Advertising and Promotions Committee have worked tirelessly to come up with creative solu- tions to our funding troubles over the years. Without their help, the bus service would not have been able to operate for as long as it did. If funding priorities ever shift back to transportation, we will gladly welcome city- wide bus service,” Luker said.

Gary Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer of MATA, agreed that the decision to terminate service in West Memphis will negatively impact residents and businesses.

“We know that public transit is the key to a healthy, strong and growing economy because everyone benefits when everyone has access to jobs, healthcare and recreation. We are hopeful that the City of West Memphis and its partners are able to restore public transit funding in the future. ”

About MATA MATA is the public transportation provider for the Memphis area. As one of the largest transit operators in the state of Tennessee, MATA transports nearly eight million customers a year in the City of Memphis, parts of Shelby County and the City of West Memphis on fixedroute buses, paratransit vehicles and rubber-tired and vintage rail trolleys. For more information, visit www.matatransit.com.

From Nicole Lacey