Transit Equity and Paratransit

Why are the civil rights of MATAplus riders treated as optional?

By Allison Donald, Independent Living Specialist, Disability Connection Midsouth

For thousands of Memphians who rely on MATAplus, that question isn’t hypothetical. It is reality. It is the only way to get to work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores, faith services, and community events. I am one of those riders. For the operators behind the wheel, it is demanding public service work that requires focus, patience, and care.

Accessible transit is not charity. It is infrastructure. But it must be more than available — it must be safe, reliable, and accountable.

During Transit Equity Day, our community affirmed that public transportation is a civil rights issue. That affirmation must include paratransit. MATAplus is not a side service, and it is not solely medical transport. It is the core infrastructure that enables people with disabilities to participate fully in community life.

Too often, MATAplus is treated like a safety net — framed primarily for medical appointments, or as an option for individuals whose families believe the fixed-route system is unsafe. At times, it is even spoken about as if it were a separate bus system — a place where “those riders” belong.

That framing is harmful. It reinforces stigma, lowers expectations, and quietly signals that some riders can tolerate inconsistency while others deserve reliability. MATAplus is not charity. It is not a courtesy. It exists because federal civil rights law requires public transit to be accessible. 

MATA leadership has emphasized efforts to be good stewards of public funds by reinvesting in portions of the existing fleet while also purchasing new buses. Fiscal responsibility matters. But stewardship is measured not only by what is purchased, but by what is maintained, disclosed, and addressed.

Operators have described serious concerns about vehicle conditions, including exhaust fumes so strong that heat had to be turned off because breathing became difficult. If accurate, that is both a worker safety issue and a passenger safety issue. Paratransit vehicles transport riders with disabilities, many with underlying health conditions. Air quality inside a vehicle directly affects vulnerable passengers and frontline workers alike.

On a recent ride, a driver suggested I consider arranging an alternative way home because the vehicle was running late. I had to take an Uber, which cost nearly $30 — an option many riders cannot afford. For those who rely on power chairs, there is no practical alternative: Memphis has virtually no accessible ride-hailing options, and I know of only one accessible taxi driver. Even minor delays on MATAplus can leave riders stranded, highlighting the system’s critical role and the urgency of accountability.

Accountability builds trust. Trust builds investment. Memphis residents are often asked to support transit funding initiatives. Transparency, oversight, and responsiveness are not barriers — they are prerequisites.

If Memphis is serious about transit equity, governance must be strengthened alongside funding. That means not only reinstating a fully appointed MATA Board of Directors, but also restoring the Specialized Transportation Advisory Committee — the body that serves as a liaison between MATAplus riders and leadership. Even with such a committee, our community must have a seat at the larger decision-making table, ensuring that MATAplus is not treated as an afterthought, but as an integral part of the city’s transit system.

That begins with clear answers:

• What is the current condition assessment of the MATAplus fleet?
  
  

• How are vehicle safety concerns documented and resolved?
  
  

• What is the unmet demand rate for paratransit trips?
  
  

• What formal crisis-response support exists for operators after critical incidents?
  
  

• When will a full MATA Board be appointed to ensure transparent oversight?
  
  

Separate can never be equal. Accessible transit should never be treated as optional. If equity applies only to fixed-route riders, then it isn’t equity at all. And if Memphis is comfortable underinvesting in the very service that guarantees access for disabled residents, we are not talking about efficiency. We are talking about whose mobility we value.

MATAplus cannot remain an afterthought. It is not an add-on. It is not a favor. It is a civil rights obligation — a cornerstone of community living. Equity requires accountability.

Memphians who depend on accessible transit deserve a system that works for everyone. If you rely on MATAplus, ride it, report concerns, and speak up. If you don’t, remember that public transit is our community’s backbone — and its fairness affects us all.