Something new is rolling onto the streets of Memphis. The Memphis Area Transit Authority has welcomed a new fleet of buses, 12 to start, the first visible piece of an effort of nearly $50 million to modernize public transportation across the city. Interim CEO Rodrick Holmes says the investment was a long time coming. “We haven’t made this type of investment in more than a decade,” Holmes said.
Riders on the busiest corridors will notice first. The new buses are headed for high volume routes, including the 50 line on Poplar and service along Lamar, where Holmes says shorter waits between stops are part of the point. Memphis Mayor Paul Young framed the upgrade as relief for riders and operators alike. “We have had challenges over the years with the fleet of buses that we’ve had. The employees have had challenges trying to get buses out each morning because many of them would have mechanical issues,” Young said.
The rebuild is not only mechanical. On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council approved seven new board members and one reappointment, filling all nine seats that govern the agency. Leadership and equipment are being replaced in the same season, which is rare for a transit system of this size.
Twelve buses are only the beginning. The full goal is 56 buses on the road, with the rest arriving early next spring or summer. “Everybody wants a transit system they can believe in, and I think we’re headed in that direction,” Holmes said.
