MATA accommodates passengers with reasonable modifications which may include helping passengers insert money into fare boxes, allowing passengers to eat, drink, or take medicine aboard a transit vehicle to avoid a medical problem, and permitting passengers to board separately from their mobility devices when the passenger can control the movement of the device.
In accordance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), MATA permits service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and facilities.
Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities, such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks.
Members of the MATA team may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform, but we will not require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability. A service animal may not be excluded unless the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it, or the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Additionally, MATA will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities during periods of construction, road closures and special events that disrupt normal vehicle patterns. MATA will also provide additional time for persons with disabilities trying to reach MATA's vehicles and while boarding or alighting vehicles when requested.
Passengers may request modifications in advance or at the time they are needed. Passengers are not required to say "reasonable modification" when asking for an accommodation. MATA staff will work with passengers to find an alternative approach to accommodate their accessibility needs if a policy, practice, or procedural modification cannot be fulfilled.
In addition, MATA will provide information (upon request) in various formats such as large print, Braille, etc. to help persons with disabilities. MATA also has TTY services available.
To request information in any of these formats or for a reasonable accommodation, call MATA's certification department at 901.722.7105. Passengers may also request a copy of MATA's reasonable modifications/accommodations policy.
MATA will attempt to provide timely information regarding any bus disruptions that may affect a passenger’s trip. However, information may change quickly without notice due to any unforeseen circumstances. Service disruption information will be posted on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rideMATA/ opens external site) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/rideMATA opens external site). Information can also be accessed via http://mata.transloc.com/ opens external site.