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MATA announces fleet replacement plan and pilots for trolleys, shelters and microtransit
Summary
MATA trustees told the transportation committee they secured about $48M to replace the aging bus fleet and plan to buy 56 buses over 12 months; they reported success with free fares boosting ridership and outlined plans to expand shelters, signage and microtransit pilots.
Roger Holmes, operational trustee for MATA, told the Transportation Committee the authority has secured about $48 million from federal, city and state sources to support fleet replacement and expects to purchase 56 buses in the coming 12 months. "Our goal is to purchase 56 buses in total over the next 12 months," Holmes said, noting 12 buses had been delivered and further batches scheduled through 2027.
Holmes and trustees outlined additional service improvements: trolley safety and braking-system testing (with TDOT notice submitted to return trolleys to the track in fall 2026), 16 newly installed shelters with a plan to install 2–3 more per month, upgraded stop signage with route information and a QR code, and pilots for MATA Plus and microtransit services to provide on-demand first/last-mile connections in targeted zones. The board reported a July on-time performance in the 60% range and plans to refurbish further buses for route reliability.
On fares, staff said rides are currently free and under evaluation; early figures show ridership increases of 26–30% and an estimated $1.8 million returned to riders' communities in saved fares, and MATA expects to announce a policy decision in roughly 45 days.
