$46 million from feds could help MATA develop U of M to Downtown corridor
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is recommending the Memphis Area Transit Authority receive $46M as part of a $4.45B national program to improve public transit across the country.
Buttigieg is asking that MATA receives the funding to improve the public transportation corridor between the University of Memphis and Downtown Memphis to “provide convenient and reliable access to jobs, education, health services, and civic centers.”
The grant would require Memphis to provide matching funds for the program, called the Memphis Innovation Corridor Bus Rapid Transit project.
“The project includes one mile of exclusive bus lanes, off-vehicle fare collection, transit signal priority, and streetscape and pedestrian improvements,” according to the transportation department.
Memphis is the only city in Tennessee recommended to receive federal funds under this initiative.
Buttigieg said the funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and would “help support transit projects all over the country that will improve the lives of millions of Americans.”
“Public transit creates jobs, reduces traffic and pollution, and lowers the cost of living for people in the community,” he said in a release.
The funds, if granted, would be available in the 2023 fiscal year.
Buttigieg recommended 14 other projects for funding, several of which were new and several of which were ongoing. The other projects were in California, New York, New Jersey, Washington and Minnesota.
Corinne S Kennedy covers economic development and healthcare for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal.com.