Memphis MATA Reduced Fares for Seniors and Riders with Disabilities

2 hours ago

7 min read

Right now, nobody pays to ride MATA in Memphis. The Zero Fare pilot that began November 16, 2025 has been extended, and it covers buses, trolleys and MATAplus paratransit. Fares will come back someday, though, and seniors, Medicare holders and riders with disabilities who already hold a MATA Reduced Fare ID will pay half. Here's what the ID costs, what to bring, the fare table to expect, and how MATAplus eligibility works.

AT A GLANCE

Today: all MATA service is free under the Zero Fare pilot, including fixed-route buses, trolleys and MATAplus. MATA hasn't posted an end date and says it will give riders advance notice before fares return.
Half fare later: seniors 65 and older, people with Medicare and people with disabilities pay $0.50 instead of $1.00 on buses and trolleys, with a MATA Reduced Fare ID.
The ID: $3, or $5 to replace. Issued at MATA's transit centers.
MATAplus: shared-ride paratransit for people whose disability keeps them from using regular buses. You still have to apply and be assessed, even while it's free.
Questions: MATA Customer Service (901) 522-9175. Reduced Fare ID 901.523.8134. MATAplus eligibility 901.322.4080.

Riding free during the Zero Fare pilot

MATA and the Memphis City Council launched Zero Fare on November 16, 2025, with support from Mayor Paul Young. It started as a 90-day pilot and has been extended while MATA studies the results. MATA says ridership rose by nearly 25% after launch.

The free ride covers every MATA service: fixed-route buses, downtown trolleys and MATAplus paratransit. The fares page adds the free Ready! On-Demand service.

A few things haven't changed:

MATAplus riders still need certification. You still apply, get assessed and book trips the usual way. The only difference is that no fare is collected.
Rider rules still apply. MATA's Passenger Code of Conduct is still in force.
Fares will come back with notice. MATA's FAQ says riders will be told in advance if and when fares are reinstated.

That last point is why it's worth getting a Reduced Fare ID now if you qualify. When fares return, you'll already have the card in your wallet instead of standing in line at a transit center.

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Who gets half fare

MATA's Reduced Fares Program page lists four groups:

Rider	Discount	What proves it
Seniors 65 and older	Half fare	Valid government photo ID or other ID showing your age
People with Medicare	Half fare on fixed routes	Medicare card plus government photo ID, at the William Hudson Transit Center
People with disabilities	Half fare	Medicare card and photo ID, or a disability application verified by a physician
Students in grades 1 to 12	Reduced fare	Proof of enrollment plus ID such as a birth certificate, Social Security card or insurance card

The disability route

If you have a disability, there are two ways to qualify:

With Medicare. Bring a valid Medicare card and a government photo ID. MATA says these applicants may be approved on the spot and don't need to fill out a disability application.
Without Medicare. A physician or other qualified medical professional has to verify your disability on MATA's application. Then turn it in at the customer service counter at any MATA transit center.

Where to get the ID

The Reduced Fares Program page says IDs are issued at three transit centers:

Transit center	Address
William Hudson Transit Center	444 North Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103
American Way Transit Center	3921 American Way, Memphis, TN 38118
Airways Transit Center	3033 Airways Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38131

The ID costs $3. A replacement costs $5. For questions, call 901.523.8134.

MATA's pages don't fully agree on the details. The main Fares page says IDs are processed at the William Hudson Transit Center only, and the Medicare section points you there too. The trolley page says you need two forms of ID, and that a Medicare card counts as one. To avoid a wasted trip, go to William Hudson with two IDs, or call first.

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The fare table for when fares return

MATA's Fares page still lists the regular prices. None of them are being charged during Zero Fare.

Fare	Regular price	Reduced price with MATA ID
Bus base fare	$1.00	$0.50
Bus Daily Fast Pass	$2.00	$1.00
Trolley base fare	$1.00	$0.50
Trolley day pass	$2.00	$1.00
Trolley 3-day pass	$9.00	$4.50
Groove On-Demand ride	$1.25	Not listed
Ready by MATA	Free	Free

Other fare rules from MATA's pages:

Children under 5 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Exact fare only. Fareboxes don't give change, and operators can't handle money.
7-day and 31-day passes aren't being sold right now.
Passes are final. MATA doesn't refund, replace or exchange passes, except ones stuck in a farebox.
Student fare: the table shows the student base fare at the full $1.00, even though students qualify for a reduced-fare ID. Ask Customer Service what students will pay when fares return.

Our example: a 68-year-old who rides to work and back five days a week would pay $2.00 a day at the regular fare, or $42 over a 21-workday month. With a Reduced Fare ID, the same trips cost $1.00 a day, or $21. Buying the senior Daily Fast Pass at $1.00 works out the same if those are the only two rides.

The trolley page also mentions passes that "will not be sold at this time due to COVID-19," which suggests parts of it haven't been updated. Check MATA's service alerts for current trolley service.

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MATAplus paratransit

MATAplus is a curb-to-curb, shared-ride service for people in Memphis and Shelby County whose disability keeps them from using regular buses and trolleys, or from getting to and from stops.

Who qualifies

MATA follows the Americans with Disabilities Act. You can qualify in one of three categories:

Category I: you can't use buses or trolleys on your own, even with training.
Category II: you could use transit, but the system isn't fully accessible for you.
Category III: a specific impairment keeps you from getting to or from a stop.

Eligibility can be unconditional (all trips), conditional (some trips) or temporary. Certification lasts one to three years.

How to apply

Get the form. The MATAplus Certification Application and Medical Verification of Disability Form is one document. Print it from MATA's site, pick one up at a transit center, or call 901.322.4080.
Split the work. You fill out pages 1 to 3. A health care provider who knows your disability fills out pages 4 to 6 and returns them to you.
Book your interview. Call 901.322.4080. MATA won't take applications by mail, email or fax, and you can't walk in without an appointment.
Go to Airways Transit Center at 3033 Airways Boulevard for a face-to-face interview. Staff may take your photo for a MATAplus ID and send you for a functional assessment the same day. The assessment is free.
Wait for a letter. MATA says you'll hear in writing within 21 days. If it can't decide in 21 days, you get presumptive eligibility until it does.

If you're denied, or you get only conditional or temporary eligibility, you can appeal in writing within 60 days of the letter. For appeal help, call 901-722-7193. You can also reapply 60 days after your last interview.

Booking rides

Reservations: (901) 722-7171, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, including holidays. TTY users can call (901) 523-2817.
How far ahead: the Reservations page says one to three days ahead. The main MATAplus page says three days up to the day before.
The app: a MATA Plus booking app lets you book, manage and track trips. Phone booking still works.
Standing trips: if you travel to the same place at the same time at least three days a week, ask about subscription service for work, medical and school trips, Monday to Saturday.
Service area: within three-quarters of a mile of a fixed route, during the same hours buses run. The Reservations page lists paratransit hours as 4 a.m. to midnight, with holiday exceptions.

Don't rack up no-shows

Cancel at least one hour before pickup. Later than that counts as a no-show. If, within 30 days, no-shows make up 10% or more of your trips, or you have three or more, you've broken the policy. A first violation gets a warning letter, and later ones bring suspensions of 1, 3, 5 and then 7 service days. Illness, family emergencies, mobility aid failures and bad weather are excused. You have 10 days to appeal a violation. Records clear each quarter.

MATAplus fares

During Zero Fare, MATAplus is free. The regular fare is $2.00 a trip within the fixed-route area, and a 21-ride pass is $45.00. A MATAplus ID card also gets you half fare on regular buses.

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Visiting Memphis with a disability

Visitors with disabilities can use MATAplus for 21 days within a 365-day period without local certification. Bring paratransit eligibility papers from your home system or proof that you live elsewhere. Contact the MATAplus Eligibility Center at 901-722-7193 (phone or text) or fax 901-623-2983.

YOUR NEXT STEPS

Ride free now. No ticket is needed during Zero Fare.
If you're 65+, have Medicare or have a disability, get your $3 Reduced Fare ID before fares return.
Bring two IDs. A Medicare card counts as one.
Without Medicare, have your doctor complete MATA's disability verification first.
For MATAplus, call 901.322.4080 to get the form and book your assessment.
Watch matatransit.com/zero-fare for news on when fares come back.

More help in Memphis and Tennessee

Official sources

Last checked: October 30, 2026. Zero Fare status, fares, Reduced Fare ID rules, transit center addresses and MATAplus eligibility, booking and no-show rules come from matatransit.com pages.

This is general information. MATA sets fares and decides MATAplus eligibility, and Zero Fare can end with notice. Call MATA Customer Service at (901) 522-9175 to confirm before you rely on any figure here.