Transit advocates want city and county leaders to oppose an act that could potentially affect federal funding for public transit.
Public transportation organizers gathered in front of the Civic Center Plaza building on Monday to not only urge local elected officials to pass resolutions opposing the Build America 250 Act and to further invest in public transit in the city.
Better Transit for a Better Memphis brought up the introduction of the BUILD America 250 Act (HR 8870), which would reduce federal funding for public transit.
“This would be a potentially existential blow to our bus and trolley system, slashing federal funding for transit by 25 percent, BTBM said. “MATA is expected to lose out when the federal budget is allocated by those who prioritize neither transit nor Memphis.
Leo Arnault, previous co-chair of Better Transit For A Better Memphis and Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope’s (MICAH) transit equity taskforce, said given the state’s “attitude towards Memphis”, reserved state funding for MATA would likely go to “rural, more-red counties.”
“We call upon Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission to immediately pass resolutions opposing this Congressional legislation,” BTBM said. “Fight for the federal funding required to move forward with access to jobs, healthcare, education, and community across the county.”
BTBM asked the Shelby County Commission to fund MATA at a minimum of $5 million, and that Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris appoint one person to the MATA board.
“This should be a permanent County-appointed seat for public oversight of MATA for as long as the County continues to make fair investment into public transit,” BTBM said.
Advocates also called the Memphis City Council out for not increasing funding for transit in Memphis.
“As taxpaying citizens and registered voters, we ask elected officials to reflect tax dollars with comparable goods and services that meet the needs of their constituents and communities,” said Dorothy Conner, co-chair of Better Transit for a Better Memphis.
These comments were made during a press conference on Monday, almost a week after the council approved the city’s operating budget.
Several advocates appeared at the council meeting last Tuesday to advocate for an increase in funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA.) However, despite pleas for a $20 million increase by organizers, the city allocated $32 million to the agency’s budget.
Conner said this decision continues a pattern of leaving public transit “underfunded.” She described the reality of bus riders, who she said experience unreliable buses with increased hardships due to the heat.
Advocates expressed their desire for a dependable transit system, which they said is directly tied to increased funding.
“We need more funding for new and more buses, more drivers, [and] mechanics,” Conner said. “Currently scheduled buses and on-demand services cannot be relied upon and pose a hardship for the entire city of Memphis.”
