New routes, infrastructure improvements from MATA

At its last meeting, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) approved $10.2 million in funding that will add seven new bus routes plus two new Park-and-Ride lots, cover infrastructure improvements at Central Station and the purchase of three new trolleys.

The additional routes will be funded for the next three years mostly through a $3.9 million award in state Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds. The leftover 20 percent of the cost will be covered by the City. The newly added routes were created to with a focus on providing improved transportation access to jobs, as well as educational and medical institutions.

The Park-and-Ride lots will service the Shelby Farms Greenline and the Agri-Center. MATA will lease a total of 200 parking spaces in two lots, located at Agricenter International and near the Shelby Farms Greenline, where transit users can park and then ride buses.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has selected a proposal from MATA for $2.6 million in federal funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program for the purchase of three new electric rail trolleys.

In a statement, MATA CEO Ron Garrison said the funds will help the organization speed the “return of our iconic trolleys with the purchase of new rail cars.” He also confirmed that the purchase of new rail cars will ease MATA’s long-term operations and maintenance costs.