Memphis Area Transit Authority

Memphis Area Transit Authority
Founded	1975
Succeeded	City of Memphis Transit Authority (1961-1975)
Headquarters	Memphis, TN
Service area	319 sq miles, including the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County, TN and City of West Memphis, AR
Employees	~ 515
Bus routes	43
Ridership (bus)	7.5 million trips/yr
Bus fleet	150
Bus fuel types	Diesel Diesel Hybrid
Trolley routes	3 (suspended)
Ridership (trolley)	1.34 million trips/FY 2011/12 Note: (suspended in 2/2014)
Trolley fleet	19
Trolley propulsion	Electric 600V DC (overhead/pantograph)
MATAplus (para-transit) Ridership	205,638 trips/yr
MATAplus fleet	appr. 50
Governed by	Seven-member policy board appointed by the mayor and city council of the City of Memphis
Executive Director	Gary Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
Official Website	www.matatransit.com
Bus Tracker	MATA Bus Tracker (TransLoc)
Telephone Information	(901) 274-MATA (6282)

The Memphis Area Transit Authority also abbreviated to the acronym (MATA) is the largest transit agency in Tennessee, serving the City of Memphis, parts of Shelby County, TN and City of West Memphis, AR.

MATA operates 43 bus routes, para transit service for persons with disabilities (MATAplus), plus heritage trolley service on three routes (currently suspended).

History

Timeline of important events

Section is incomplete. You can help!

• 1975: MATA takes over services, from City of Memphis Transit Authority.
• 1993: MATA trolley service begins on Main Street line.
• 1999: MATA Central Station (Amtrak Station) completed renovation in November.
• 2011: MATA Airways Transit Center opens, moving inter-city bus services from Downtown Memphis to area adjacent to Memphis International Airport.
• 2014: MATA trolley service suspended indefinitely, following two fires on trolleys in December, 2013 and January, 2014. Hopes are to have service restored by late-2017.

Routes

Current as of June 27, 2022.

For printable online schedules visit here.

Route number and route name	Terminals	Streets traveled	Notes
1 Union
2 Madison			Serves Memphis International Airport from downtown Memphis.
4 Walker			Serves Memphis International Airport from downtown Memphis.
7 Shelby and Holmes
8 Chelsea and Highland
11 Frayser
12 Mallory
13 Lauderdale
16 Southeast Circulator
19 Vollintine
28 Airport
30 Brooks
32 Hollywood and Hawkins Hill
34 Central and Walnut Grove
36 Lamar
37 Perkins
39 South Third
40 Stage
42 Crosstown
50 Poplar
52 Jackson
53 Summer
57 Park
69 Winchester

Connecting services

MATA makes connections to Greyhound at the Airways Transit Center, adjacent to the Memphis International Airport. Greyhound previously served downtown Memphis, however, moved their Memphis operations to the center on November 8, 2011.

MATA serves Memphis International Airport from Downtown Memphis on routes 2 and 4.

MATA also makes connections to Amtrak, located at Central Station (545 S. Main Street) in downtown Memphis. Central Station is managed by MATA.

MATA Properties

Administration, rail facilities and maintenance depots

Depot name	Location	Notes
MATA Headquarters	1370 Levee Rd, Memphis, TN 38108	Served by routes 8 (short walk) and 42 (directly).
Bus garage	1393 North Watkins Street, Memphis, TN 38108	Served by routes 8 (short walk) and 42 (directly). Maintenance facility for MATA buses.
Trolley depot (Main Street Trolley)	547 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38105	Served by a short walk from Main Street Trolley and Riverfront Trolley Loop. Maintenance facility for MATA trolleys.
Central Station (Amtrak)	545 S. Main Street, Memphis, TN	Served by routes 12, 13, 15, 39, 78, Main Street Trolley and Riverfront Trolley. Managed by MATA, housing Amtrak and Memphis Police Department at Hudson Hall. Amtrak services ("City of New Orleans" route/service) One early-morning departure daily, serving Jackson, MS and New Orleans, LA One late-evening departure daily, serving Carbondale, Champaign and Chicago, IL.

Intermodal transit centers

MATA has three transit centers available for passengers to transfer between routes, and to gather system information.

Terminal name	Location	Served by routes	Notes
William Hudson Transit Center	444 N. Main St.	2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 34, 36, 39, 40, 46, 50, 52, 53, 56, 57, 78, 98, 400	Formerly known as North End Terminal.
American Way Transit Center	3921 American Way	9, 17, 21, 22, 26, 30, 36, 37, 56, 64, 69
Airways Transit Center	3033 Airways Boulevard	2, 4, 28, 30, 32, 99, Greyhound	Located near Memphis International Airport.

Roster

Conventional Transit Buses

Active

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
401-420		2003	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G29D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Voith D864.3E	Remaining active vehicles may be retained as part of contingency fleet.
448-459		2014	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9
460-462		2015	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9
601-608		2015	Double K	Villager			Replica trolley buses temporarily used on trolley lines, due to trolley closure.
3001-3010		2009	Gillig	Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2)	Cummins ISL
3011-3022		2010	Gillig	Low Floor 29' (G27E102R2)	Cummins ISL
4004-4018		2012	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison EP40 hybrid system
4019-4033		2014	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	Cummins ISB6.7	Allison EP40 hybrid system
5001-5005		2010	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 35' (G30B102N4)	Cummins ISB	Allison EP40 hybrid system
21201-21215		2012	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	Cummins ISB6.7		Ex-Antelope Valley Transit Authority 4355-4369, acquired in 9/2021.
21501-21503		2015	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9		Ex-Antelope Valley Transit Authority 4372-4374, acquired in 9/2021.
21701-21715		2017	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9
21801-21809		2018	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9
22201-22203		2022	Gillig	Low Floor EV 40' (G28D102N4)

Retired

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
50-54		1990	Chance	VS-24 Replica trolley	Cummins B5.9	Allison AT-545
55-56		1992	Chance	VS-24 Replica trolley	Cummins B5.9	Allison AT-545	1991 models All retired by May 2015.
57-59		1992	Chance	26TR Replica trolley	Cummins B5.9	Allison AT-545
60-74		1985	National	Escort II
75, 77-94		6-7/1944	GMC	TG-4006			Ex-Memphis Transit Company 75, 77-94.
75-84		1988	National	Escort II
85-92		1992	Chance	RT-52 Handi-Lift			# 86 VIN # 1CPCR2DS2NW077638 # 87 VIN # 1CPCR2DS4NW077639 # 90 VIN # 1CPCR2DS4NW077642 # 92 VIN # 1CPCR2DS4NW077644
93-105		1995	Goshen
100-106, 108-113		1947	Mack	C-45-DT			Ex-St. Louis Public Service Company #?.
100-114		7/1965	GMC	TDH-5303
114		1948	Mack	C-45-GT			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?. Converted to Diesel.
115-123		1951	Mack	C-45-GT			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?. Converted to Diesel.
115-124		9/1967	GMC	TDH-5303
?-123		1998	Dodge	Caravan			Unknown number of units. #122 VIN# 2B4G94438W857118 #123 VIN# 2B4GP443XW857119
124-128		2000	Dodge	Caravan			Unknown number of units. #124 VIN# 2B4GP44R9YR865266, sold in June, 2006. #125 VIN# 2B4GP44R5YR865264, sold in July, 2006. #126 VIN# 2B4GP44R7YR865265, attempted to auction off in July, 2006. Unknown disposition. #128 VIN# 2B4GP44ROYR865267, sold in April, 2006.
125-126		1955	Mack	C-47-DT			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?.
125-144		2/1968	GMC	T6H-5305A
200-209		1951	Mack	C-50-DT			Ex-Cincinnati Street Railway 955-964.
200-243		1977	AMG	9640B-8			Carry serial numbers 000277-000320.
200-209		1999	Champion	Solo	Cummins ISB	Allison	Retired prematurely. Attempted to be auctioned off on Public Surplus in May of 2016. 30 ft models
210-216		1951	Mack	C-50-DT			Ex-?.
235-236		1956	Mack	C-49-DT			Ex-Leyden Motor Coach #?.
244-253		1978	AMG	9640B-8			Carry serial numbers 000442-000451.
300-304		1953	White	1150-D7	Cummins HBI-600	Spicer 918	Ex-Fifth Avenue Coach Lines 2600-2604, acquired in 1960. 96 inch wide buses.
300-329		7-8/1979	GMC	RTS-03 (T8H-203)
301-340		2002	Blue Bird	CSFE	Cummins ISB	Allison 2000 Series	Used for MATAPlus service.
341-351		2003	Blue Bird	CSFE	Cummins ISB	Allison 2000 Series	Used for MATAPlus service.
352-361		2011	Chevrolet Arboc				Unknown number of total units in this series. Previously used on MATA Plus para transit shared-ride services. Built on Chevrolet Express chassis. Placed for auction on Public Surplus in April, 2017. #352 VIN # #353 VIN # 1GB9G5AL6A1180089 #355 VIN # 1GB9G5AL3A1180969 #357 VIN # 1GB9G5ALXA1181178 #358 VIN # 1GB9G5AL2A1180686 #359 VIN # 1GB9G5AL5A1179970 #360 VIN # 1GB9G5AL3A1180079 #361 VIN # 1GB9G5AL8A1180174
400-429		11-12/1949	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Memphis Transit Company 400-429.
400-404		6/1966	GMC	TDH-4519
405-412		10/1966	GMC	TDH-4519
413-439, 490-499		3/1968	GMC	T6H-4521A			416, 425, 429 & 431 sold in 1985 to Continental Air Transport.
421-447		2010	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Allison B400R	#433 caught fire in Germantown December 8, 2015.
430-459		10/1950	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Memphis Transit Company 430-459.
460-462		1949	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?.
463-468		1950	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?.
469		1952	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-West Towns Bus Company #?.
470-484		1950	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Triboro Coach Corporation #1151-1165.
486-490		1951	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Memphis Transit Company. Exx-Buffalo Transit Company 316-321.
491		1949	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Caseyville Bus Lines #?.
492-493		1951	GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-Yellow Bus Lines #?.
500-506		1947-48	GMC	TDH-4507			Ex-Cincinnati Street Railway #?.
500-509		1983	MAN	SG-310-16.5-2A	MAN D2566 MLUM	Renk-Doromat 874B
501-507		2004	Neoplan USA	AN460LF	Cummins ISL	Allison B500R	Run exclusively on Routes 43 and 50 during rush hours only. One unit is retired due to a fire and is used for spare parts. Believed to be retired
507			GMC	TDH-4507			Ex-?.
508-519			GMC	TD-4506			Ex-?.
510-519		1987	MAN	SG-310-18-2A	MAN D2566 MLUM	Renk-Doromat 874B	513 image Retired circa 2004. #511 VIN 13M29305_HC251796, auctioned off in September, 2015. #513 VIN 13M29305_HC271798, auctioned off in September, 2015. #514 VIN 13M29305_HC281799, auctioned off in September, 2015.
520-529			GMC	TDH-4507			Ex-Cleveland Transit System #?.
530-539			GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-?.
540-545			GMC	TDH-4507			Ex-?.
546-547			GMC	TD-4506			Ex-?.
548-549			GMC	TDH-4008			Ex-?.
550-554			GMC	TDH-4512			Ex-?.
567-587			GMC	TDH-4509			Ex-?.
590-592, 598			GMC	TDH-4512			Ex-?.
600-614		2/1954	GMC	TDH-5105			Ex-Memphis Transit Company 600-614. 603-604, 611 sold in 1968 to West Suburban Transit Lines 518-520.
600-682		7-8/1985	GMC	RTS-04 (T8J-204)
615-639		2-3/1956	GMC	TDH-5105			Ex-Memphis Transit Company 615-639. 615 to United Motor Coach 612 in 1974.
684-695		3/1986	GMC	RTS-04 (T8J-204)	Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
700		1962	Flxible	F2D6V-401-AC			Ex-Flxible demo. To SCRTD #5735 in 1976.
700-714		5/1988	TMC	RTS-06 (T80-208)			701 was spotted in Albuquerque, NM under private ownership in September 2015. It was later listed on ebay in October 2016. 714 was bought by Optimum Transportation (Memphis, TN).
701-714		1964	Flxible	F2D6V-401-1-AC			To SCRTD #5736-5749 in 1976.
715-724		6/1989	TMC	RTS-06 (T80-208)
725-740		8/1994	TMC	RTS-08 (T80-208)
800		2/1961	GMC	TDH-5301			Ex-GMC Demo
800-838		1997	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins C8.3	Allison B400R
801-840		8/1961	GMC	TDH-5301
839-888		2000	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R
841-850		3/1962	GMC	TDH-5301
851-878		2-3/1963	GMC	TDH-5303
879-914		3/1964	GMC	TDH-5303
889-908		2001	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R
900-912, 914-920		2-3/1956	Mack	C-45-GT			Ex-?.
909-928		2002	Nova Bus	LFS	Cummins ISC	Allison B400R
915-989		4/1965	GMC	TDH-5303
1001-1012		2005	Optima	Opus	Cummins ISB	Allison B Series	Declared surplus prematurely in January, 2017 due to wiring and hydraulic issues.
2001-2004		2007	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 29' (G30E102R2)	Cummins ISB	Allison EP40 hybrid system
2005-2007		2009	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 29' (G30E102R2)	Cummins ISB		#2006 caught fire 10/6/2014
4001-4003		2010	Gillig	Low Floor HEV 40' (G30D102N4)	Cummins ISB	Allison EP40 hybrid system
4520 to 4550							Unknown number of units. 4520, 4530, 4540, 4550 known to exist. Fleet series possibly in increments of 10 (10, 20, 30...)

MATA Trolley (streetcar/tram)

The Memphis Area Transit system operated a heritage streetcar system on three distinct rail lines; the Main Street Line, the Riverfront Loop, and the Madison Avenue Line. Combined, the network served a total of 38 stations. Service had began on April 29, 1993, however, was suspended indefinitely following fires on two of the cars ion December of 2013 and January of 2014. As of October, 2016, no date has been set for the reopening of service, however, there are hopes to reinstate service by late-2017.

All-time list

This section is incomplete. You can help!

Fleet number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Motors	Notes
156						ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis.
164						ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis.
180						ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis.
187		1927				ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis. Placed up for auction in December, 2017.
194		1935				ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis. #194 involved in collision accident with a Melbourne W2 car due to a power failure in June of 2011.
204		1940				ex-Porto, Portugal. Restored by Kerns-Wilcheck Associates of Memphis.
417, 452, 454-455, 539-540, 545 (7 total cars)		1951-1956		Melbourne W2		Received between 1990s and 2003. Ex-Melbourne, Australia, same fleet numbers. Nine total cars. Reconditioned by Gomaco. One car involved in collision accident with #194 in June of 2011, due to power failure. Two cars caught fire in December, 2013 (fleet #452) and April, 2014, the latter prompting a temporary closure in May of 2014 to conduct an investigation to the cause of the fires, and to create a plan to deal with the issues from happening to further cars. Each car is assigned a different color scheme: #452 is red with cream trim. #453 is gold with red trim. #454 is green with white trim. #455 is cobalt blue with white trim. #540 is cream with black trim. #545 is forest green with cream trim. #'s 452 and 553 attempted to be auctioned off in 2016, after catching fire. The recommended $1000 opening bids were not matched by bidders.
453		2004	Gomaco	Safety Car		Replica of Birney Safety Car, built by Gomaco.
799				Melbourne W2		Purchased in late-January, 2016.
1035		1989	Siemens	U2		Ex. San Diego 1035
1794						ex-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Originally open-air, enclosed before entering service in Memphis. Placed up for auction in December, 2017.
1978				Melbourne W2		ex-Melbourne, Australia 353. Only Melbourne-class W2 car to not carry original numbers. Rebuilt by Gomaco Trolley Company.
1979			Gomaco

Further reading

• Wikipedia - Memphis Area Transit Authority
• Facebook - Memphis Area Transit Authority
• Job & Career News from the Memphis Public Library - Job Openings – MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority)
• Metro Magazine - Memphis Area Transit Authority
• Public Surplus (auctions) - Current and closed MATA auctions

References

• MATA (official site)