The Memphis Area Transit Authority has begun installing new shelters at bus stops across the city, something the current MATA leadership calls a top priority.
So far, four shelters have been put in place, and another eight are slated for installation “in a timely manner,” said Christian Craine, equity compliance analyst with MATA. The actual timeline will depend on things like contractor availability and weather, Craine said.
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MATA has had about 50 new bus shelters on hand at the bus operations center since they were purchased in 2023. It’s unclear why they were never installed, although MATA’s previous interim leadership mentioned installation costs when the bus shelters were first mentioned publicly in an August board meeting.
MATA doesn’t plan to deploy them all immediately, said Rodrick Holmes, attorney and MATA trustee. Instead, some will be kept in reserve to replace shelters as they age out of service.
Once all 12 shelters are installed, MATA will have a clearer idea of how to manage replacements going forward, Holmes said. The transit authority says it plans to conduct surveys and seek community feedback to identify which bus stops need to be prioritized.
Installation costs can range from $1,500-$3,000 per bus stop. MATA is using state and federal funds to pay for the first 12 shelters, according to a MATA spokesperson.
MATA says it selected the first batch of shelter replacements by identifying high-traffic bus stops that either did not have a shelter or had one that needed to be repaired or replaced.
New and upgraded shelter locations:
- Stage at Covington Pike – Pending Install
- Stage at Covington Pike – Pending Install
- Centennial at Hacks Cross – Proposed install (this location is still under review to determine whether it will receive a new shelter)
- Shelby Drive at Boeingshire – Installed
- Chelsea at Hollywood – Pending Install
- Winchester at Germantown – Pending Install
- Poplar at Highland – Installed
- Lamar at Bellevue – Pending Install
- Elvis Presley at Norris – Installed
- Second at Court Square–
Pending Install(MATA officials decided Wednesday that the location at Second at Court Square could not support a new shelter. Another location will be chosen, they said). - Third Street at Eastman Road – Installed
- Airways at Holmes – Pending Install
There are two types of shelters being installed: nine-foot shelters with a bench that seats two inside and 13-foot shelters with a bench that seats four. MATA used ridership numbers and considered the physical space available to decide which shelter each stop received, Craine said.
One of the new shelters, located at Shelby and Boeingshire drives, was requested by community members, Craine said. That stop had no shelter, only a deteriorating bench that didn’t belong to MATA.
“We want to have people comfortable, and we want to kind of have some type of protection from the elements if it’s raining, if it’s a little bit more cold,” Craine said. “We want to have them in more of an enclosed area. And this is going to make it safer.”
Holmes, who was appointed in September, said he’s spent the last few months in his leadership role meeting with community organizations and rider advocates.
“Over and over, what we kept hearing from people is (among) their top three concerns would be something related to the shelters,” Holmes said. “When you’re thinking about a service you’re providing, you want it to be safe and you want it to be a good experience. So that combination, for me, makes it a priority.”
Katherine Burgess is the government accountability reporter for MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. Contact her at katherine.burgess@mlk50.com
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