Main Street Line (MATA Trolley)

The Main Street Line is a line of the Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley system. It began operations in 1993, becoming the first streetcar line to operate in Memphis since 1947.[1] It runs for about 2 mi (3.2 km) along Main Street, with 13 stops in Downtown Memphis. The Main Street Line is concurrent with the Riverfront Loop for almost all of its length.[2]

Main Street Line
The Civic Center Plaza station with its clock tower.
Overview
TypeHeritage streetcar
SystemMATA Trolley
StatusOperational
LocaleMemphis, Tennessee, United States
TerminiButler Avenue
North End Terminal
Stations13
Operation
Operator(s)Memphis Area Transit Authority
Technical
Line length2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Track length3.7 mi (6.0 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead lines
Route map

North End Terminal
Overton
I-40
Convention Center
Civic Center Plaza
Jefferson Street
Court
Madison
Union
Peabody Place
Beale Street
Dr. M.L. King Jr.
Huling
Butler

Route description

The Main Street Line begins in the South Main Arts District at Butler Avenue. From here it runs north past major attractions such as the National Civil Rights Museum and Beale Street. At Peabody Place, Main Street becomes a pedestrian mall allowing the trolley full right-of-way. On the Main Street Mall, the line passes through the heart of downtown Memphis, passing Court Square, the Civic Center Plaza, and the Cook Convention Center. At Madison Avenue, the tracks connect with the Madison Avenue Line, though the two lines to not have connecting routes. The mall ends at Exchange Street in front of the convention center, whereby the trolley continues north to the North End Terminal on Shadyac Avenue. The terminal provides connections with the MATA bus system. For the entirety of its route, the Main Street line has a double track, with cars operating in both directions.

List of trolley stops

South Main Arts District to North End Terminal

Stop Other
trolley line(s)
Notes
Butler    South Main Arts District, Blues Hall of Fame
Huling    South Main Arts District, National Civil Rights Museum
Dr. ML King Jr.    Formerly "Linden" for the cross street
FedExForum, Halloran Center
Beale Street    Beale Street, Elvis Presley Plaza, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Orpheum Theatre
Peabody Place    Peabody Place, Belz Museum
Union    88 Union Tower, AutoZone Park, One Commerce Square
Court         North Court (northbound), South Court (southbound)
Court Square, Falls Building, Fire Museum, Raymond James Tower
JeffersonStop is southbound only
200 Jefferson tower, 88 North Main building
Civic Center Plaza    City Hall, Shelby County Courthouse
Convention Center    Cannon Center, Memphis-Cook Convention Center
Overton    Pinch District
North End    North End Terminal transit center

References

  1. Huston, Jerry (April 22, 1993). "Trolley rumbles to life in city – Line readied for comeback downtown". The Commercial Appeal.
  2. "MATA Trolley Service". Memphis Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
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