The wheels are in motion for a major operational overhaul at the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), as the board has greenlit a temporary change in leadership, handing the reins to the consulting firm TransPro, reported Action News 5. This change comes off the back of a narrow 5-4 board vote that supported the firm stepping in for an eight-month tenure with John Lewis as interim CEO; it's a move aimed at steering MATA out of its $60 million deficit and improving overall transit services within the city.
The decision has TransPro taking the lead on boosting customer satisfaction and optimizing the city's investment in MATA with Lewis at the helm, joined by Steve Hamelin, and Aaron Headley as interim COO and CFO respectively with these appointments expected to last roughly eight months, during which interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin is set to step back into a deputy role and the city of Memphis footing the $1.3 million bill for these shifts as Local Memphis reports; though it's worth noting no contracts have been finalized, the Memphis City Council still needs to cast its vote before the plan can roll out into implementation.
Exploring deeper into the underpinnings of this move, TransPro was initially tasked with auditing MATA to identify and root out performance and financial issues, following which it provided a "Phase 2 Proposal" that tabled a comprehensive strategy encompassing service quality, safety, and efficiency improvements, which include a review of MATA's bus routes, schedules, and ridership, according to a detailed draft report obtained by Memphis Flyer.
This isn't a unanimous drive, as several board members have expressed reservations about the interim set-up, largely the high cost and structure of temporary leadership as board member Jackson McNeil vocalized hesitancy regarding essentially a part-time CEO commanding a $400,000 salary, suggesting a preference for full-time leadership to navigate the crucial work ahead, the board's chair, Emily Greer noted that this subject was "part of the negotiation"; Commissioner Cynthia Bailey also voiced concerns regarding the opaque nature of discussions around this proposed transition and its operational execution echoing she and other board members need to "think on this very toughly" and take into account community feedback, Mauldin herself addressed the board indicating her willingness to support TransPro and the board's vision, saying, "If that's where the mayor and the board feel like my talents are best utilized in Memphis, then that's where I'll serve," – Mauldin told Memphis Flyer.
