Main Street Line
The Civic Center Plaza station with its clock tower.
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleMemphis, Tennessee, United States
Termini
  • Butler Avenue
  • North End Terminal
Stations14
Service
TypeHeritage streetcar
SystemMATA Trolley
Operator(s)Memphis Area Transit Authority
History
OpenedApril 29, 1993 (1993-04-29)[1][2]
Technical
Line length2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Track length3.7 mi (6.0 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
ElectrificationOverhead lines
Route map
Maintenance Facility
Riverfront Loop
 North End Terminal Bus interchange
 Overton
I-40.svg I-40
 Convention Center
 Civic Center Plaza
 Jefferson Street
 Court
Madison Avenue Line
 Madison
 Union
 Peabody Place
 Beale Street
 Dr. M.L. King Jr.
 Huling
 Butler
Riverfront Loop
 Central Station
Amtrak

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.[3] It runs for about 2 mi (3.2 km) along Main Street, with 14 stops in Downtown Memphis. The Main Street Line is concurrent with the Riverfront Loop for almost all of its length.[4]

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.

In February 2021, MATA opened a new stop in front of Memphis Central Station. Construction of the new stop was funded through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant from TDOT.[5]

List of trolley stops

South Main Arts District to North End Terminal

Stop Other
trolley line(s)		 Notes
Central Station Memphis Central Station
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. ↑ May, Jack (November 1993). "Memphis: Trolleys Roll Again". Passenger Train Journal. Interurban Press. pp. 40–48. ISSN 0160-6913.
  2. ↑ Scott, Don (Summer 1993). "Metamorphosis on Main Street". The New Electric Railway Journal. pp. 14–16. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via American Public Transportation Association.
  3. ↑ Huston, Jerry (April 22, 1993). "Trolley rumbles to life in city – Line readied for comeback downtown". The Commercial Appeal.
  4. ↑ "MATA Trolley Service". Memphis Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
  5. ↑ "South Main shop owners ready for new trolley station to open this weekend". WREG.com. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
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