The Barrier Free Memphis Society
				MATAplus.com
				The REAL Rider's Guide
				Letters of Betty Anderson BFMS President

MATAplus Fact Sheet

The Barrier Free Memphis Society wants to know:
Does MATA comply with the ADA?

Will Hudson, the president and General Manager of MATA says yes, but consider what really happens in Memphis:

Certification - Will Hudson says it was done. But with over 2000 MATAplus riders, only 1700 certification applications were even mailed out. Now, 9 months after the certification was to be completed, less than half the current riders are certified. Will Hudson calls that compliance.

Service Criteria - The ADA specifies that reservations are to be made before the day of the ride; yet, you know that reservations are commonly not made one and two days in advance.

Computer software - to increase efficiency was to be purchased for Memphis. A year ago Lawson Albritton said this was the single most important item to fix the troubles at MATAplus.

New vehicles - promised paratransit buses have never showed up.

Increase in service - The ADA is to be a avenue for people with disabilities to be more involved in the community. The paratransit plan anticipated a huge increase in the demand of the paratransit service (50%). MATA's inability to provide reasonable transportation and the poor management of the system has KEPT PEOPLE FROM USING PARATRANSIT. They have responded to increased demand with increased miserable service.

Facts of ADA paratransit service you can DEMAND from MATAplus:

• You can schedule more than one trip and a return. You may schedule all the trips you need to make in a day.

• MATAplus is a service that the city must provide alongside the fixed route system. MATAplus is not a charity, the management is required to meet your needs.

• You may use both accessible fixed route and MATAplus. Service by MATAplus does not disqualify someone from also using a fixed route bus when available.

• You may have companions with you if space is available. They must have the same origin, destination, and pay for their ride. If you require a personal care attendant, they ride with you for free. Space is to be provided so anyone may have one companion, in addition to a personal care attendant.

• MATAplus has 21 days to review your eligibility criteria when you first apply for service. If they do not provide a written explanation for denying service, they are to accommodate you as if you were certified.

• Negotiate YOUR hour. MATAplus is to schedule your ride in one hour of when you requested it. For example, if you have to be at work at 8:00 a.m.; you request a ride at 7:30. MATAplus is to schedule your pickup sometime between 6:30 and 7:30. If they cannot accommodate you in that hour, YOU are to choose the available times that they can provide a ride. No one is to be denied service.

• You have five minutes from your confirmed pick-up time to meet the bus. If the bus is to be more than 15 minutes early - you should be notified. The bus cannot leave you, however, until 5 minutes after your confirmed pick-up time.

• Write it down! Keep a journal of your interactions with MATA.

Call the MATA complaint line:
522-9175

Tennessee Protection and Advocacy
is actively pursuing litigation concerning MATA.
If you have evidence to add please call:
Page Garret 1 (800) 342-1660 ext. 16

Complaints of paratransit providers:
1 (202) 366-1656

ADA Legal Questions:
1 (202) 366-1936

The Barrier Free Memphis Society:
726-6404

MATA has not complied with the ADA!

Can Memphians trust the MATA board and management to see to the future transportation needs, and light rail, when they cannot properly run the comparatively small paratransit service?

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Memphis Transit is Going Nowhere
Memphians are appalled that we must sue our public officials before they will do their job.

Where are the buses?

MATA has failed to implement their own Paratransit plan. Since 1992 citizens have only received evasion and excuses. Now, MATA has not delivered promised buses.

Transit in the future

Memphians will not put up with a "charity ride" any longer. We demand a new attitude from MATA. If they cannot manage the paratransit service, how are they going to handle the growing needs of Memphis next year?

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MATA officials promised a fleet of 28 low-floor buses in service by Sept. 30. MATA promised new software by Jan. of 1998. MATA has promised 39 new low-floor fixed route buses by the end of the year. MATA has promised a new Attitude.

Citizens of Memphis demand that MATA keep its promises! Memphians insist, HONEST and COMPETENT management of the transit system is the best way to assure quality transportation in the future.

"We WILL Mess Up Again."

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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© 2006 Tim Wheat