The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is the public transportation provider for Memphis, Tennessee. It is one of the largest transit providers in the state of Tennessee; MATA transports customers in the City of Memphis and parts of Shelby County on fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles, demand-responsive service, and the MATA Trolley system. The system is managed by a seven-member policy board appointed by the mayor and approved by the Memphis City Council.^[4] In 2023, the system had a ridership of 3,122,700.

As of August 2023, MATA operates 23 fixed-route bus routes. Most bus routes terminate at William Hudson Transit Center. On MATA's system map, bus routes are organized into three categories based on rush hour frequency: high frequency routes have 30-minute weekday frequency, medium frequency routes have 60-minute weekday frequency, and low frequency routes have greater than 60-minute weekday frequency.^[27]

In October 2023, the 36 Lamar, 50 Poplar, and 42 Crosstown bus routes had the highest ridership. The 28 Airport, 16 Southeast Circulator, 37 Perkins, and 34 Central & Walnut Grove routes had the lowest ridership.^[28]

MATA also operates a shuttle service to Liberty Park from downtown and the University of Memphis for the Southern Heritage Classic.^[29]

In the past, MATA's roster included AM General 40 ft. buses, RTS buses, Neoplan articulated buses, and NovaBus LFS buses. The LFS was MATA's preferred fleet of choice, having been used in its lineup from February 1980 until its retirement in April 2010, when the six remaining 1994 NovaBus versions were replaced with the Gillig Advantage Hybrids.

Today, MATA fixed-route fleet consists of diesel and diesel-electric Gillig Advantage Low Floor buses. These buses can hold 40 people seated^[30] and are equipped with bike racks, Wi-Fi, and a wheelchair ramp.

Initially opened in 1993, the Main Street Trolley Line uses classic streetcars on a system that has grown to three routes: one along the riverfront, another serving Main Street in the heart of downtown Memphis, and an extension on Madison Avenue. The Madison Avenue line opened in 2004,^[57] as the initial stage of a light rail system that would connect downtown Memphis with the Memphis International Airport and eventually to regional transit service beyond the MATA service boundaries.

Service was replaced by buses after two trolleys caught fire in late 2013 and early 2014. After nearly four years, the Main Street Trolley Line was reinstated in 2018.^[58][59]

Currently, MATA offers trolley line services seven days a week. The Main Street Line operates trolleys with 12-minute headways throughout the day. The Riverfront Line and Madison Line operate buses with 40-minute and 30-minute headways respectively.^[60]

MATA has 5 operable trolleys, but only 4 are operated at a time.^[1]

MATAplus is a shared ride paratransit service designed to meet the transportation needs of persons with disabilities in the Memphis service area. The service covers the same area as the MATA bus system and operate during the same days and hours as the fixed-route bus system in the same area. The service area extends three-fourths (3/4) of a mile beyond the fixed-routes, which means that anywhere beyond the area mentioned can not qualify for MATAplus services.^[61] Two types of services are offered through MATAplus: Advance/Demand Response, which allows riders to book reservations in advance, and a subscription service that allows riders to use the service to take them to their destination and back.

Groove On-Demand is an on-demand service launched in February 2021. It is the successor to MATA and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC)'s Route 500 commuter bus. The current service also includes the Downtown Memphis Commission as a major supporter. Groove serves Downtown, the Medical District, New Chicago, and President's Island. Groove operates using software from Via Transportation.^[62][63][64]

Ready! by MATA is an on-demand service launched in August 2021. It is a one-year pilot program that was implemented as a part of Transit Vision. Ready! serves three zones. Zone 1 covers the neighborhoods of Boxtown, Westwood, and Whitehaven. Zone 2 consists of Northaven and Frayser. Zone 3 is mostly in Cordova. Reservations works similarly to ride hailing services, but payments can be made through the GO901 app or in-person with cash. Fares are the same as fixed route buses. Ready! operates Monday-Saturday, 6am-7pm.^[65][66][67]

In October 2023, Groove served 11,105 riders. Ready! served 5,343 riders in SW Memphis, 2,248 in Northaven/Frayser, and 591 in Cordova.^[28]

MATA charges a flat fare for all trips. Since June 20, 2020, the full fare is $1 and the senior/disabled fare is $0.50. MATA also offers a Daily Fast Pass for $2 ($1 for seniors and disabled individuals), but hasn't offered 7-day or 31-day passes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to three kids under 5 can board for free with fare-paying rider.^[68][69]

In September 2020 MATA launched GO901, a mobile fare app that allows users to purchase fares and day passes using debit and credit cards.^[70][71] In conjunction with the app, MATA started offering free WiFi on vehicles starting in December 2019.^[72]

On August 21, 2023 MATA launched the GO901 Smart Card, which are able to be refilled on the app or at kiosks and service counters at MATA's transit centers.^[73] The Smart Card only supports pay-as-you-go payment and can be set up to automatically refill itself.^[74]

MATA administrative offices are on the 12th floor of One Commerce Square. In 2023, more space was leased for staff working on capital projects.^[75] The Trolley Operations and Maintenance facility is located at 547 North Main Street. The operations center and road vehicle maintenance facility are located at 1370 Levee Road. The facility was opened in 1981 and is located on top of an old garbage dump.^[76]

MATA also owns three transit centers, two of which have parking, and one park-and-ride lot.^[77] MATA also designates several malls as informal park-and-ride lots on its map.^[78]

The ridership statistics shown here are of bus and streetcar fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.^[79]

• List of bus transit systems in the United States
• Memphis Central Station