The Paradox of Local Travel in Memphis

The dichotomy of travel in Memphis is mind boggling. We are a city at the center of the global transportation industry, yet we have a relatively limited inner-city transportation system. The airport is one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world. However, it is one of the most expensive airports to fly into or out of. I worked in the electrical industry for five years in Memphis and we were part of 6 different regional sections because no regional manager could afford to live and travel from Memphis. It doesn't make sense to me that we are one of the central hubs of international shipping, but cannot get reasonable rates to fly humans. We only have one option for Amtrak that goes from New Orleans to Chicago. If we wanted to take a train east or west we would have to change routes somewhere. Yet the container shipping via railroad in Memphis is booming. West Memphis is home to multiple trucking company's operations centers and large distribution centers. That makes the area a centralized spot for the trucking industry. However, most of our own goods come from Atlanta and Dallas. With the Fed Ex, International Paper and Auto Zone headquarters located in Memphis, it seems that we would have a better travel infrastructure around the city. We are a community that relies on automobiles to make our way around the area and we gladly pay for parking as a convenience. Living in a community that does not offer an alternative travel option to get from the city to the suburbs and vice-versa makes it difficult to maneuver if you do not own a vehicle. There are bicycle paths around the city, but very few in the downtown area. I think if Memphis put a bit of thought and a little money into the localized travel industry it would make a great difference in the community and show that we are not just a stopping point for goods in the center of the United States.