MEMPHIS, Tenn — A group is calling for the city of Memphis to provide emergency funding to save the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

The Moral Budget Coalition wants the city of Memphis to help MATA with its funding crisis facing devastating cuts and layoffs.

Without this funding, tens of thousands of Memphians who rely on public transportation will be affected. 

The Moral Budget Coalition is urging Mayor Paul Young and the City Council to provide at least $20 million to prevent devastating cuts and layoffs at MATA.

“Everything points back to the only thing we can do right now to save public transportation is to invest $20 million into MATA right now,” said Bennett Foster, Executive Director of Memphis For All.

The coalition says chronic underfunding has already led to reduced transit services, hitting hardest in majority Black neighborhoods where residents depend on public transportation the most. 

“We’re going to have a lot of people who are impacted and education, workforce economics, healthcare and if anyone cares about crime and safety and our communities they care about this issue because it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Cardell Orrin, with Stand for Children Tennessee. “Another thing we do is start cutting people’s ability to make it to jobs and things that they need.”

The coalition is calling for immediate action, citing Mayor Young’s goal of expanding public transit services in his 100 Days Address.

Retired nurse Ewayna Brown who attended the meeting says she has stepped in to help elderly people struggling at bus stations during the heatwave.

She’s even responded to medical emergencies while people wait in the blistering sun without shelter or water.

“Yes, that’s a safety hazard to me as a registered nurse. Yes, that’s a safety hazard,” said Brown. They don’t have covering for these people out there out in the sun. I’ve done CPR even. I’ve seen people pass out.”

She says there should be water fountains nearby if people are going to be out there.

“They are not protecting the MATA riders,” said Brown.

The Moral Budget Coalition proposes three solutions: Increasing property taxes by 14 cents, reallocating a portion of the $114.8 million in rainy day funds, or increasing vehicle registration fees.