Better Transit for a Better Memphis

10/04/2026

Hello All! Please share these flyers to support BTBM getting Memphis on the bus. Get on the bus, Memphis! We're not where we need to be... but we're getting there! Tell us your story!

Flyers
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xgzu33ouqJykv4yN8gevlclrh9UgTLTe/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b8rq5jUxKtFndL3CYQRWbXjulslmnxiP/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OGJjS_3exlAeV9DZxnAeqlY5gPpEGmyi/view?usp=drive_link

Here's a new friend of ours, April.

09/06/2026

Better Transit for a Better Memphis is excited to congratulate our co-chair, Allison Donald, on her appointment to the Memphis Area Transit Authority Board.

Allison Donald was officially appointed to the board yesterday by vote of the city council. The other MATA board appointments include Sharon Harris, Tate Wilson, Willie Gregory, Dr. Gwen Sutton, William Mallory IV, and Antwoine Clark, and the reappointment of Brandon Arrindell.

As a daily transit rider and longtime advocate for a better public transportation system in Memphis, as well as having a history of paratransit advocacy as an Independent Living Specialist with Disability Connection Midsouth, Allison brings an important perspective to the board. She relies on transit and understands the challenges riders of all abilities face every day.

At the same time, this appointment creates an important responsibility for our organization.

Because Allison will now serve on the MATA Board, she will be stepping down as co-chair of Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM). This is the right step to avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest and to ensure a clear distinction between the work of an independent advocacy organization and the responsibilities of serving on BTBM’s board.

Our organization’s role does not change. While we are encouraged to see a daily rider taking a seat at the table, representation is not accountability. MATA and our city’s leadership still have an obligation to deliver a transit system that is reliable, accessible, and safe for all. BTBM will continue to advocate for riders, push for better service, demand transparency, and hold transit leadership accountable, including the new MATA Board.

We recognize that serving on the MATA board comes with responsibilities to the entire transit system and to the public. Our responsibility as an advocacy organization is different. It is to listen to riders, speak openly about their experiences and concerns, and advocate for the changes at MATA we believe Memphis needs.

Those roles can, and should, coexist with mutual respect and independence.

We also recognize that there are many people and organizations who have worked for years to improve public transportation in Memphis. We welcome a stronger and more diverse presence of riders and advocates in the conversations shaping MATA’s future, even when organizations may approach those challenges from different strategic perspectives.

Our focus remains the same: a transit system that Memphis riders can depend on.

We congratulate Allison on this opportunity and look forward to working with the new MATA board to build a transit system that is reliable, equitable, and accessible for all.

~ Better Transit for a Better Memphis

09/03/2026

Better Transit for a Better Memphis is excited to congratulate our co-chair, Allison Donald, on her appointment to the MATA Board.

Allison Donald was officially appointed to the board yesterday by vote of the city council. The other MATA board appointments include Sharon Harris, Tate Wilson, Willie Gregory, Dr. Gwen Sutton, William Mallory IV, and Antwoine Clark, and the reappointment of Brandon Arrindell.

As a daily transit rider and longtime advocate for a better public transportation system in Memphis, as well as having a history of paratransit advocacy as an Independent Living Specialist with Disability Connection Midsouth, Allison brings an important perspective to the board. She relies on transit and understands the challenges riders of all abilities face every day.

At the same time, this appointment creates an important responsibility for our organization.

Because Allison will now serve on the MATA Board, she will be stepping down as co-chair of Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM). This is the right step to avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest and to ensure a clear distinction between the work of an independent advocacy organization and the responsibilities of serving on BTBM’s board.

Our organization’s role does not change. While we are encouraged to see a daily rider taking a seat at the table, representation is not accountability. MATA and our city’s leadership still have an obligation to deliver a transit system that is reliable, accessible, and safe for all. BTBM will continue to advocate for riders, push for better service, demand transparency, and hold transit leadership accountable, including the new MATA Board.

We recognize that serving on the MATA board comes with responsibilities to the entire transit system and to the public. Our responsibility as an advocacy organization is different. It is to listen to riders, speak openly about their experiences and concerns, and advocate for the changes at MATA we believe Memphis needs.

Those roles can, and should, coexist with mutual respect and independence.

We also recognize that there are many people and organizations who have worked for years to improve public transportation in Memphis. We welcome a stronger and more diverse presence of riders and advocates in the conversations shaping MATA’s future, even when organizations may approach those challenges from different strategic perspectives.

Our focus remains the same: a transit system that Memphis riders can depend on.

We congratulate Allison on this opportunity and look forward to working with the new MATA board to build a transit system that is reliable, equitable, and accessible for all.

08/05/2026

West Memphis stepping up to start rebuilding transit!👏👏👏

Public transportation returned to West Memphis today. The West Memphis Connect Public Transit System is the city’s new way to get people who don’t have transportation around the city. It’s been several years since any public transit navigated West Memphis streets. https://fox13.tv/4xoI1Xh

07/15/2026

Today, we’re meeting with MATA to discuss:

🚏 INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES
• • Bus orders
• • Bus stops
• • Bus signage

🔥 SUMMER SAFETY
• • How are we managing the heat beyond the buses and the 3 transit centers?
• • How far apart are covered bus stops to protect riders from summer heat, winter ice, and rain?
• • How will MATA work to communicate delays, esp. during this heat?
• • Update on rides to Cooling Center at Hospitality Hub

💲 BUDGET 2026-27
• • Highlights for the next year. What’s new?

🤝 DRIVER PROFESSIONALISM & RESPECT
• • Slur used against rider during recent trip. What is MATA doing to prevent this?

🗳️ ELECTION PREPARATION
• • How does MATA plan to provide polling place service during Aug. and Nov. elections despite a shortage of buses and bus operators?
• • Will MATA promote early voting locations and times within the buses?

07/13/2026

At yesterday’s MICAH candidate forum, Better Transit for a Better Memphis told our political candidates to Get on the Bus for Public Transit!

Thank you to everybody who joined us to demand that Shelby County politicians support public transit, housing, transformational justice, and immigrant rights. Thank you to our participating candidates for Shelby County Mayor, Sheriff, County Commission, and Board of Education.

Candidates’ full-text responses to questions will be shared later this week by MICAH - Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (and on this page). Thank you to New Direction Christian Church for hosting and to everyone who joined us in raising these vital issues!

06/30/2026

⚠️⚠️⚠️ The BUILD America 250 Act is an EXISTENTIAL threat to the future of public transit. It would jeopardize federal funding by taking it out of public transit and allowing Tennessee to spend it on unrelated projects.

Action News 5 reports:
“Given the state’s attitude of Memphis, we believe the funding will go to rural, red counties far east of Memphis for bridge and road repair,” said Leo Arnoult, past chair of Better Transit for a Better Memphis. “This plan is coming from the Build America 250 Act, now being developed by Congress and coming up for passage when Congress reconvenes from its break.”

The group is urging the city council and the county commission to formally oppose that federal bill.

An advocacy group that pushes for better public transportation in Memphis is calling out city leaders over the recently approved FY2027 budget.

02/13/2026

On Transit Equity Day 2026, we shared these local bus riders' message: We are ! These are a few of the 40,000 people who ride public transit in the Memphis area every day. Please watch and amplify their stories.