The unions of two groups sometimes pitted against each other in seeking their agenda for the bus system in Memphis have joined together against a common foe: the management of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
Micaela Watts reports that several streams of big transit news are coming together in Memphis. First came the news of a "partnership between the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 713 (the local bus drivers' union) and the Memphis Bus Riders Union (MBRU)," with both sides "eager that the union merger will erase the long-standing perception of blame-placing that pits the bus drivers against the bus riders."
And as fortune would have it, less than a week after the partnership was announced, came a funding announcement that did not go over well with the new allies: "Congressman Steve Cohen announced that $2.6 million in federal funds, secured through the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), would be allocated to fund three electric trolleys for downtown Memphis."
Cynthia Bailey, outreach coordinator for MBRU is quoted directly in the article explaining the MBRU's position about the funding: "When you put money [only] downtown where the trolleys are, you're forgetting about your citizens….You're forgetting about the people who need transportation to get to jobs and destinations." Local 713 is described as echoing those concerns.
The remainder of the article goes into more detail about the bad blood between the unions and the leadership of the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), with the additional layer of political intrigue added by the recent election of Mayor-elect Jim Strickland.
FULL STORY: Bus Riders’ Union and Bus Drivers’ Union Team Up
Multi-Car Owners May Pay Sustainability Fee to Fund Memphis Area Transit
Called a 'sustainability fee' by Mayor Lee Harris of Shelby County, the proposed fee would apply only to households that have three or more registered vehicles, about 17 percent of county residents. The first two vehicles would be exempt.
Memphis Planning for a Big Expansion of Transit Service
The city of Memphis is ready to expand its transit system, spending $30 million a year in annual operating cost to add 200,000 service hours to the Memphis Area Transit Authority system.
Memphis Bus Riders Union Scoring Victories
Streetsblog USA has been keeping close tabs on the bus system in Memphis, recently noticing signs of progress from the local transit agency, MATA.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie