SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — MATA's board of commissioners approved a number of changes on Sept. 24 with hopes to avoid more budget issues.
Starting Nov. 3, MATA will discontinue these six bus routes:
- Route 16 Southeast Circulator
- Route 28 Airport
- 34 Central & Walnut Grove
- Route 37 Perkins
- Route 69 Winchester
- Zone 3 Cordova Ready! On Demand
The affected routes were selected based on current ridership, available funding and community feedback, according to a press release from MATA officials.
The remaining MATA bus routes will run every hour, operating Monday through Saturday until 7 p.m. and Sundays until 6 p.m., MATA officials said.
MATA will also reintroduce pre-pandemic fares of $1.75 for regular bus routes and start a $2.00 fare for Ready! On-Demand services.
A press release from MATA officials said these updates "provide affordable transit options and reflect MATA’s commitment to offering flexible transportation solutions for the Memphis community."
“This decision was not made lightly," said Michael Fulton, Chair of the MATA Board of Commissioners. "Our goal is to ensure that MATA remains responsive to the needs of the community while optimizing our resources for long-term sustainability. These changes reflect our commitment to enhancing service where it is most needed."