Spatial mismatch refers to the theory that opportunities for low-income people are located far away from the areas where they live. In the US, this can be seen through high concentrations of poverty located in central cities and low-wage and low-skill employment opportunities concentrated in the suburbs. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the MATA lines but the majority, with the exception of a few, run west to east/east to west. There have been adjustments to routes over the past few years in order to cut routes not frequently used but there have not been additions or support to routes that are heavily used (from residential neighborhoods to the service sector in the suburbs). For this reason, while the search for a new MATA(Memphis Area Transit Authority) MG continues, community forums have taken place in order to have the community input.
In February, Memphis residents united to air their grievances regarding the new MATA President as the current interim-General Manager, a long-time bus driver, announced his retirement in November 2013. Present General Manager Will Hudson began as a bus driver in 1964 and worked his way up to president and general manager. In November of 2013, he announced that he would be retiring. The new search for a general manager included a public forum hosted by Livable Memphis and held at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library where bus riders and members of the Memphis Bus Riders Union aired their grievances.
Among one of the comments, one woman expressed "The bus route that I need stops running at 3 p.m. every day...Who the hell gets off work at 3 p.m. every day?" Others present, bus riders, and Memphians complained about the lack of seating and the lack of overhead shelter at many bus stops, as well as a lack of information for non-English speaking bus riders.
This is a prime example of how poorly, and arguably hasty decisions have been made regarding management at MATA. It does not help the recruiting process that the city is constantly making cuts to the MATA budget. Last year, the Memphis Bus Riders Union fought to keep a $1.2 million from the proposed cut—which would have been $2.5 million.
Last week, in attempts to continue to decrease expenses, MATA officials declared there will not a be a shuttle for sports-fans from/to Grizzlies games and other sporting events. The shuttle to Collierville has already been discontinued and these cuts will include shuttles from Bartlett, Germantown, and Poplar Plaza in East Memphis and Halle Stadium in Southeast Memphis. Currently, riders pay $8 for a round-trip ($4 one-way) and they are said to be willing to pay more. However, the MATA representative explain that federal regulations won’t allow MATA to charge more than $4 for a one-way fixed route. Additionally, the greatest cost (amounting to an annual $100,000) comes from costs in personnel, not the bus.
Tom Fox, has expressed that “To be fair to all our riders, we pull all our resources where we can give the best value to the riders. This brings up the very thought provoking question of who MATA is supporting and helping to endorse. MATA has been making cuts left and right; it would make sense that more cuts would be made in its shuttles. However, the individuals benefitting from the shuttle are few and are willing to pay more than $4 a ride and there have been alternatives to a city shuttle, a private shuttle. With whom is MATA severing alliances by cutting of the shuttle? The individuals who are investing the local sporting events or the companies and the vendors that benefit from the shuttle and its riders? Furthermore, who is being more vocal and receiving the most attention in regards to MATA's budgets? The transit dependent or the sports fan who seek shuttle services?
Moore, Linda. “Memphis sports fans may lose MATA shuttles.” Commercial Appeal. April 13th, 2014. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2014/apr/13/memphis-sports-fans-may-lose-mata-shuttles/
Shaw, Chris. “New Management.” February 20, 2014. http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/new-management/Content?oid=3614700
Side note:This coming Monday, the Sierra Club-Chickasaw Group will be hosting panel discussion on transportation planning so that community members, specifically the transit dependent, can learn how to have input and influence on local transportation procedures.
Hooks Public Library, 3030 Poplar, Memphis, TN
April 28, 2014. 5:30pm (meet/greet); 6:00pm (panel begins)
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