The Will Hudson Transit Center, commonly known and referred to in this document as the North End Terminal, is MATA’s most used transit hub, and is in need of serious renovation. In the past year, we, the Memphis Bus Riders Union, have worked with riders to develop a vision of a more ideal terminal space and a series of recommendations for tangible improvements at the terminal. These recommendations are based on input gathered from bus riders, through outreach at the facility and through workshops at our membership meetings. We are proud to present a genuine community plan for the future of our bus station.
Our recommendations span many aspects of the terminal, inside and out. The North End Terminal should not be neglected in lieu of places like the Airways Transit Center and Central Station, which have received or are receiving large amounts of development funding since the North End Terminal was built in 1998. There is no excuse for a terminal as important as the North End Terminal to lag significantly behind the others in convenience, safety, and visual beauty. The images in this document provide a tangible view of how the recommended improvements could change the environment of the North End Terminal for the better.
We recommend that the funding for these improvements be set aside in MATA’s budget for the specific purpose of renovating the North End Terminal. This is not an issue that should fall solely on the shoulders of riders: ultimately, MATA has the ability to effect change in this matter by reexamining which of its sectors have the greatest need and potential windfall.
Renovation is not an issue that can be put off any longer, and we will continue to point out these inequities until meaningful effort is put toward their resolution.
Our recommendations are organized into the following categories: Safety; Sanitary Conditions: Restroom Renovations; Customer Service; Public Engagement; and Quality of Life, which includes Amenities and Atmosphere.