A 'Memphis 3.0' Vision for Transit Taking Shape

The Memphis 3.0 planning process is just getting started, but discussions about the future of transit in the city are already well under way. In addition to the release of the "Transit Vision Choices Report" released at the end of September, the city is promoting a public survey that will produce conclusions next year to help inform the Memphis 3.0 plan.

An article by Wayne Risher details the current transportation planning efforts, which are under direction by Jarrett Walker + Associates. Risher reports that the transit study occurs against the backdrop of declining ridership on the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) system. The article cites Scudder Wagg, senior associate at Jarrett Walker, who describes an underfunding system in a increasingly sprawling city—the city of Memphis has doubled in land area since the 1960s.

MATA chief Gary Rosenfeld is also cited in the article supporting increased spending. "Rosenfeld has said the agency could add 200,000 hours of bus service by early 2019 with a $30 million increase in funding. A change in state law this year provided new funding options for transit," writes Risher.

Another article by Ryan Poe from August 2017 describes more about how the changed funding landscape in Tennessee has enabled Memphis's transit planning ambitions.

As for Memphis 3.0, the plan is expected to guide the city's vision for land use, neighborhood development, transportation, and more on the occasion of the city's bicentennial, which will occur in 2019.