MBRU Meeting THIS Saturday! MATA Votes on Service Changes in 3 Weeks! Transportation Utility Fee Proposed!

Greetings, transit warriors! It’s almost time for our next member meeting! This will be on Saturday, September 8th from 12-2 PM at A Step Ahead Foundation (Suite 451 in the Crosstown Concourse). We’ll go over MATA’s proposed service changes, debrief on the campaign so far, and talk more about strategies bus riders are using to make change around the country. We’re always looking for new members, so tell a friend to come join us!

Also, we’ve been concerned about MATA’s proposed round of service changes that would go into effect this fall. These changes include cutting seven routes, and changing frequency and weekend service on many more–read the full list here. With this many changes in the works, we need to make sure riders’ needs are represented before MATA votes on them at their September Board meeting. Come to MATA Headquarters on Thursday, September 27 at 3:30 to see the Board vote on these changes!

Finally, we want to highlight the conversation happening in City Council about a transportation utility fee. Councilman Edmund Ford, Jr. has proposed adding a flat fee to MLGW bills that would go to fixing potholes and sidewalks, and potentially create a dedicated funding source for MATA. MBRU is waiting to see what a full proposal for this fee would look like, and how it would impact working-class Memphians. Check out this article by Maya Smith in the Memphis Flyer.

***Take MBRU’s new TRANSIT SURVEY! We want to hear from riders all over Memphis about how you use MATA service in your neighborhoods. We’re working on making versions that are accessible for even more Memphians. Take the online version in English here, and here is la encuesta en Español. We’ll also have paper surveys at all our town halls this year!***