Transit Equity Day

“What would Rosa Parks Do?”

By Allison Donald 

Transit Equity Day, observed on February 4th, Rosa Parks’ birthday, honors her pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Specifically her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in

Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Rosa Parks' action sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. 

Transit Equity Day serves as a reminder that the struggle for civil rights and inclusion are deeply connected to transportation.  Accessing the community is critical for everyone regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or ability. Memphis deserves a transit system that empowers its citizens. 

February 1st in Memphis is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges that people with disabilities face when trying to access public transportation. For Memphis bus riders with disabilities we face issues with limited paratransit service availability, insufficient bus stop accessibility, inconsistent and non-compliance with ADA. 

Without equitable public transit Memphians with disabilities face greater social isolation, economic hardship, unequal access to community resources and jobs. As a person who relies on paratransit as their primary source of transportation it has become a never ending cycle of hoping that affordable and accessible public transit becomes a reality. Reliable public transit is something that all Memphians can value.

“As a person living with a disability,” said Allison Donald, “I should be able to access public transit just like any other non-disabled Memphian.” 

Transit Equity isn’t just a disability issue, it is a community issue. Affordable and accessible transit options benefit everyone from the people living with disabilities who want to travel independently in their community to the elderly person who may rely on buses to run their errands. An equitable transit system strengthens communities by providing its residents with the opportunity to fully participate in the social, economic and civic life of Memphis.

As Memphis continues to grow and evolve we must continue to demand equal access for all our residents. Transit Equity Day is a reminder that every person regardless of ability should have the right to travel freely and independently within their own communities. For more information about public transit and Transit Equity Day visit https://www.disabilitymidsouth.org/news for the latest news, updates and how to get involved.

Notice from the Administration for Community Living

 

Notice of Court Order You are hereby advised that a temporary restraining order has been entered in the case of New York et al. v. Trump, No. 25-cv-39-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), ECF No. 50 (Jan. 31, 2025). You are receiving this Notice pursuant to the Court’s directive that notice of the order be provided “to all Defendants and agencies and their employees, contractors, and grantees by Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.”  This case challenges an alleged “pause” of certain Federal financial assistance, related to OMB Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (Jan. 27, 2025) (“OMB Memo”). Although that OMB Memo was rescinded on January 29, 2025, the plaintiffs in the above-referenced case allege that the funding pause directed by the OMB Memo is still in effect, including because of recently issued Executive Orders by the President.  In response, the Court has entered a temporary restraining order prohibiting certain actions by the Defendants in the case, which is effective immediately. All Defendants—including their employees, contractors, and grantees—must immediately comply with the Court’s Order. For complete details and terms of the Court’s Order, please refer to pages 11 and 12 of the Order.  To assist in your compliance, here is a summary of the key terms:       1. Federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB Memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.       2. This prohibition applies to all awards or obligations—not just those involving the Plaintiff States in the above-referenced case—and also applies to future assistance (not just current or existing awards or obligations).       3. Agencies may exercise their own authority to pause awards or obligations, provided agencies do so purely based on their own discretion—not as a result of the OMB Memo or the President’s Executive Orders—and provided the pause complies with all notice and procedural requirements in the award, agreement, or other instrument relating to such a pause.            a. On pages 11 and 12 of the Order, the Court prohibits agencies from pausing funding “except on the basis of the applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms.” Thus, agencies remain free to exercise their own discretion under their “authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms,” including any exercise of discretion to pause certain funding. Additionally, agencies remain free to take action pursuant to the terms of the relevant award or obligation, such as in cases of grantee noncompliance.            b. Any exercise of agency discretion, however, cannot be based on the OMB Memo or the President’s Executive Orders, given that the Court has prohibited agencies from “implementing or giving effect to the OMB [Memo] under any other name or title[.]” (Order, pg.12). Additionally, any decision to pause, stop, delay, or otherwise withhold federal financial assistance programs must comply with all notice and procedural requirements in the award, agreement, or other instrument setting forth the terms of the award or obligation.       4. Out of an abundance of caution, all federal agencies (even those not named as defendants in the case) should comply with the above-referenced terms.  As the Court’s Order reflects, the above terms are temporary as litigation in the case is ongoing. At present, however, the Court’s Order is in effect and must be complied with.  If you have any questions about the scope or effect of the Court’s Order, please contact your agency’s Office of General Counsel or your grant officer, as appropriate. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  ACL.gov Advancing independence and inclusion of older adults and people with disabilities This email comes from an unmonitored account. Please do not reply to this email.

MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council

Why Memphis Needs the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council

Public transit is the lifeblood of a thriving city, connecting people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential services. For Memphis, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is more than just buses and trolleys—it’s a critical component of daily life for thousands of residents. Yet, like many transit systems across the country, MATA faces challenges in meeting the diverse needs of its riders, operators, and the broader community. That’s why the proposed creation of the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council (MATA SAC) is such an exciting and necessary step forward.

A Voice for the Community
The MATA SAC is designed to bring together a diverse group of voices: bus operators, mechanics, daily riders, and community advocates. By doing so, it ensures that decisions about public transit are informed by those who rely on and operate it daily. This inclusive approach fosters collaboration and provides a platform for meaningful dialogue between MATA management, the Board of Commissioners, and the community.

Too often, public transit decisions are made without fully understanding the on-the-ground realities faced by riders and operators. The MATA SAC aims to change that by prioritizing transparency and creating a direct line of communication for addressing immediate service issues and planning for long-term improvements. This is more critical for the current MATA Board of Commissioners because the one thing the public knows about the Commissioners is that most of them do not ride the bus. 

Building Trust and Accountability
For years, trust between MATA and its stakeholders has been strained by service delays, accessibility challenges, and other systemic issues. The formation of the MATA SAC represents a proactive effort to rebuild that trust. By allowing SAC representatives to present recommendations and ask questions at MATA Board meetings, the council empowers community members to hold decision-makers accountable and to contribute to shaping the future of public transit in Memphis. This is an important value that the recent TransPro report has implied and the new Board has seemed to embrace. 

Immediate and Long-Term Impact
One of the council’s primary goals is to address immediate service issues that affect riders daily. From scheduling and route planning to maintenance and accessibility, the MATA SAC will provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve the rider experience. Over time, the council will also focus on long-term strategic planning, ensuring that MATA evolves to meet the growing needs of Memphis’ diverse population.

Support for the MATA SAC is about equity, accessibility, and opportunity. Reliable public transit is essential for reducing economic disparities, empowering individuals with disabilities, and fostering a more connected community. Advocacy groups like Disability Connection Midsouth and Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM) recognize that the MATA SAC has the potential to drive transformative change by amplifying the voices of those most impacted by transit decisions.

Join the Movement
The MATA SAC is a movement toward a more inclusive and responsive transit system. By involving operators, riders, and advocates, the council will help MATA deliver on its promise of providing equitable, accessible, and reliable transportation for all Memphians.

We urge residents, businesses, and community organizations to support the creation and growth of the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council. Together, we can build a public transit system that works for everyone and ensures that Memphis remains a city on the move.