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6/16/99, 12:55 pmcdt
Comments for the June 16 MATA public hearing
MATA has not demonstrated the management skills to successfully implement a "no-show" policy. In fact, MATA uses misinformation to restrict service and disempower consumers. The "no-show" policy will become another weapon for MATA management to restrict and deny service to paratransit eligible people.
All riders know of this misinformation, it takes different forms. On June 10, rider DS called to find out about her 7:30 a.m. pick-up. It was 8:00. She was told the bus would be there at 8:15. The bus arrived at 10:15.
Likewise, VS called when her bus was 30 min. late. She was told it would be there in 15 minutes. She was told this three times.
Most riders fear intimidation and retaliation from MATA agents. Few people continue to be treated so disrespectfully and they simply do not seek transportation from MATA.
People are denied transportation by the poor management and lack of direction of MATA. Last summer a paratransit consultant reported that:
"The single greatest shortcoming at MATAplus is the lack of commitment to quality. The absence of leadership, a failure to participate, and an inability to determine where it is and where it is going limits MATAplus' ability to provide the disabled community in Memphis with a service that is safe, reliable, customer-oriented and cost-effective."
In fact, rider LD was told that MATAplus was so busy she couldn't get a ride "all week." Since you can only reserve trips three days in advance, the manager of operations was predicting continuing discrimination!
MATAplus is to be comparable to the fixed-route bus. I waited for a fixed-route bus yesterday... the Number 2 was about 10 minutes late. Would the fixed-route riders settle for a bus that might come next week!
The sad fact that this demonstrates is that MATAplus management is no more competent than a year ago.
MATA must show an ability to properly administer and manage the paratransit system before they can further restrict ridership with a "no-show" policy.
The 1996 ADA paratransit report stated that MATAplus had 3800 riders in 1996 and they projected growth to 4200 in 1997.
Today there are 970.
People are not using the system because of the inability for MATA management to DO THE JOB.
The 1999 Barrier Free Memphis Society Survey of MATAplus
The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org
MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency
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