Just to make things clear, as a result of the trolley fire that happened to be one of the trolleys assigned to the Madison Avenue line the day of that incident, MATA is now suspending ALL trolley service, including that on the Madison Avenue, Main Street and Riverfront lines.
Here is the MATA press release:
MATA TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND ALL TROLLEY USE
New energy efficient hybrid electric buses to serve trolley customers during overhaul
See also: Alternative service routes and shuttle maps
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, June 10, 2014 - The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) today announced that it has made the decision to temporarily suspend trolley operations as a first step toward a omplete vehicle overhaul or replacement. The decision comes following a MATA-requested independent system review by a panel of experts in the operation, renovation and maintenance of "heritage style antique trolley systems" commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The independent review committee in a preliminary briefing to MATA (full report will be issued in several months) recommended that the existing trolleys must undergo a complete re-renovation overhaul at this stage in their use, or be replaced. Many of the trolleys in the MATA fleet have been in operation since the line opened on Main Street 21 years ago.
MATA officials have determined that it is in the best interest of MATA trolley customers to take a decisive step toward the future for the trolley operation immediately. The request by MATA for the independent panel review and report from the APTA was made following a trolley fire in April. Beginning tomorrow morning, the Main Street and the Riverfront Loop trolley routes will be accommodated with hybrid electric buses following a reconfigured route.
MATA said it has not determined how long the system will be completely down. While a study of the options for full vehicle overhaul or replacement is being undertaken, MATA will also look at the feasibility of re-certifying a handful of cars for a temporary partial upgrade that gets them back into service. If feasible, the goal is to have enough re-certified trolleys ready to begin at least partial service resumption between three and six months from now.
"Our first and primary responsibility is public safety," said Tom Fox, MATA's Interim President and General Manager. "The review of the trolley system makes it clear that an overhaul or replacement of the current vehicles is inevitable, and there is no reason to delay. The report indicated that the system and basic physical infrastructure is strong, but the vehicles themselves have merely reached the natural end of their safe and efficient use without renovation."
MATA will also immediately begin a feasibility study to determine what the best and most cost effective long-term solution is to returning trolley service to the downtown. Choices include a complete renovation of the existing fleet, the purchase of a new fleet of heritage trolleys and retrofitting them much like the original work done 21 years ago, or upgrading to a newer more modern system of vehicles. Each of the choices will be evaluated for its cost, the time to implement, the long-term investment value, and the tourism benefits. Experts on the committee report that the MATA renovated trolley fleet is at the outer edge of historical usability without overhaul. MATA will also use the down time to revise and update its trolley policies and procedures to better align with the APTA Standard for Heritage Trolley Vehicle Equipment created after the MATA trolley launch in 1993.
"This is not an easy decision because we know these trolleys have become an icon of the downtown experience. But it is the right decision given all of the information we have," said Fox. "Our focus is on the long term trolley program, and on operating a safe and dependable system."
"If there are some cars in which it makes long-term financial investment sense to re-certify and get the Trolley program up on a limited basis, we will do it," Fox added. "However, it is clear from the APTA independent examination, that the only long-term solution is one that overhauls or replaces every trolley vehicle."
MATA Introduces New Bright Green Energy Efficient Hybrid Electric Buses
While the trolleys are out of service, MATA will utilize a fleet of new hybrid electric buses that will take a route along Main Street between
Central Station and the beginning of the Main Street Mall and then make a loop utilizing Front Street and Second Street to complete the circuit now covered by the Main Street Trolley Route. A Riverfront Loop service will operate along Front Street and then down to Riverside Drive and back up to the south end of Main, however much of the Riverside Loop for tourists is along track areas that cannot be used by a bus. The Madison Avenue route will continue to be covered by buses as well.
"We are proud to use these newly purchased green hybrid electric buses for the people who depend on the trolleys for their downtown
transportation needs," said Fox. "They will be easy to recognize with their bright green color, making a definitive statement that MATA is taking steps toward maximum fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility."
The green hybrid buses will phase into regular fixed route service as well. Depending on the number used, some green buses will enter the fleet right away.
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