Building Together: City of Memphis Weekly Newsletter

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As most of you are aware, our public transit agency has had a tough season. Earlier this week, MATA announced the suspension of Trolley service in an effort to promote safety and increase operational efficiencies. And, while we understand public frustration with the decision, we support all efforts to provide safe services and we applaud any effort to create a better, more efficiently run transit system. 

We, at the administration, understand the importance of public transit in building a better Memphis. While MATA is not a city division, public transit is essential to how we all work, live, and engage, and as such, we are invested in the health of the organization. Beyond that, I understand that there are thousands of residents who solely rely on MATA for all of their transportation needs. For those residents, public transit is not theoretical. It is essential. 

And while I don’t rely on public transit for my daily journeys, my personal background is in city planning, and I understand that strong public transit plays a crucial role in city development. Providing an alternative to private vehicles for commuting to work, school, or leisure activities makes a city more appealing and equitable. The access provided by reliable public transit ensures that essential services and amenities that exist beyond our neighborhoods are accessible to all, promoting equity and fostering a stronger community. And that is what we all want for Memphis. 

Well-utilized public transit system contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing single-passenger vehicles and traffic congestion, leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. This not only improves air quality and the overall environment but also supports efforts to combat climate change.

According to the team at the Memphis Chamber, high-quality public transit is essential for economic development, as it enhances a city's desirability by improving overall quality of life and attracting residents, businesses, and investments. Well-designed, reliable, frequent, affordable, and safe public transit, enhances a city's appeal.

Quite simply, great public transit can help create a better, more connected, and healthier community. And this is why, whether you have ever ridden MATA or not,  we all need to care about the future of public transit. 

Creating the best possible Memphis doesn’t happen without the best possible MATA. 

I believe innovation is the answer. One of MATA’s most successful pilot programs is Groove On-Demand. The Downtown Memphis-centered rideshare service is provided in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission and works a lot like other ride-share programs. 

With Groove On-Demand, riders can book trips straight from their phones to go anywhere within the 15-mile zone anytime from 6 am-10pm. Groove runs seven days a week and operates like a mini-bus service, allowing passengers to share trips for commuting, exploring, or completing daily errands. Rides cost $1.25 for any one-way trip, and downloading the Groove On-Demand app makes using the service even easier. 

The numbers show that Memphians love taking Groove to get where they need to be, with more than 10,000 rides completed every month. 

Inspired by what is possible, our administration is continuing to work with MATA leadership to determine more innovative and community-benefiting routes and structures. We have engaged the help of outside transit professionals to support our local experts at MATA as they identify efficiencies and opportunities. We have recruited an outside audit firm to review past financial practices as MATA looks at long-term financial restructuring.  And we are committed to continuing to work with the MATA board and MATA leadership as they find a path toward economic and operational stability.

Safer Communities Grant Program. We are excited to announce a new competitive funding opportunity beginning 8/26/24 at 12:00 PM CST. The Safer Communities grant program makes funds available to nonprofit organizations for programs designed to create safer communities. More information and the application can be found here.

Weekly Crime Trend

The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024.

(We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.)

Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38104, 38111, 38118, 38127, 38128.

Social and Community Shout-outs:

Youth Baseball Clinics. Registration is open from now till September 28th for FREE youth baseball clinics hosted by Memphis Parks Athletics department! See full details here. 

Back to School Block Party. Celebrate Back to School season with Memphis Public Libraries! See full details here.

District 5 Listening Session. Join Councilman Phillip Spinosa, Jr. And Super District 9-2 Vice Chairman Ford Canale for a discussion on the future of District 5 and the broader Memphis community. See more and share here.

MFD Hero Day. Join Girl Scouts Heart of the South and Memphis Fire Department for their 8^th annual Hero Day! See full details here.

901 Day. Save the date! Join us on Sunday, September 1, 2024 from 11am-5:30pm on Fourth and Beale! We will be celebrating all things Memphis with live performances, family friendly activities, special guests, and so much more! See full details here.

Weekly round-up

in partnership and progress,

Paul A. Young