Despite “glowing” reporting from the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) on the state of agency affairs — Memphis City Council members are continuing to voice questions, concerns, and disapproval.
“This council has invested into MATA to the tune of at least 30 million a year — sometimes up to 50 million — yet today we’re talking about broken benches and people who are on dialysis not being able to be picked up, disabled people not being able to [get to] church, [and] large areas like Frayser and Whitehaven not getting service,” Councilwoman Jerri Green said during today’s meeting of the city’s transportation committee.
As a part of a new resolution, the transit authority is required to give monthly updates and reports to the city council as a grantee of city funds. MATA is required to give “a high-level overview of key developments, challenges, and achievements in the past month, along with major priorities for the coming month.”
Some of the agency’s achievements for the month included procuring 100 percent of their vehicles for fixed route services, missed trips dropping from 33 percent to 7 percent, and progress toward steel-wheeled trolley recertification.
MATA also included 1,600 pages of financial documentation which included copies of checks, invoices, and authorizing emails. This report follows the release of a financial audit report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which Green called “disgusting.”
“When you [TransPro] issued your report of MATA, I said it was scathing,” Green said . “This [PwC report] is disgusting. This is shameful. Anyone who had a hand in this should be beyond embarrassed, because this is a waste of taxpayer dollars in print.”
The report detailed several financial failures by the agency, including incomplete invoices, unchecked spending, and operation “without a defined budget.”
Green noted that MATA officials, both past and present, have failed to be honest about the agency’s circumstances. MATA’s interim CEO, John Lewis, gave a report with several positive updates on the agency — however council members noted a contrasting reality for their constituents.
Members spoke on elderly and disabled riders not being able to procure public transportation, transit reliability, and cosmetic problems such as broken benches.
Lewis said part of the agency’s service problems come from having buses that are over 14 years old.
MATA alluded to fixes to these changes, such as purchasing new, gently used buses. Lewis also noted that the $2 million estimate given by previous leadership to get steel-wheeled trolleys road-ready has been reduced to less than $30,000; council members said no explanation was given to account for this change.
“I hope you understand when you come to us and tell us things are great — not a single person up here believes it,” Green said.
The agency also announced that a search for a permanent CEO is underway. While public transit advocates voiced their preferred qualifications for the next candidate at last week’s board meeting, city council members chimed in on the conversation as well.
“The new CEO and CFO, I hope they don’t come from what’s already within the department,” Yolanda Cooper-Sutton said. “Please do not bring anyone who has been part of this as a suggestion.”
Cooper-Sutton urged the agency to focus on fixing their routes and providing consistent service to residents. She said while the city is a funding source for the agency — the money comes from taxpayers.
“They should have adequate service being provided to them,” Cooper-Sutton said. “Get those routes fixed for the people. Get from behind the desk — go talk to the people. Get out and see what’s happening. No more paper pushers.”