MEMPHIS, Tenn. — MATA's trolley system, a fixture of downtown Memphis, has been missing since August of 2024, with no clear timeline of when it will come back.  Trolley repairs could cost $1.2 million. MATA says to put a secondary brake on each trolley would cost $200,000 each.  "We were talking to MATA about when we can expect trolleys back. And, you know, I don't think they're gone forever," said Kevin Kane, president of Memphis Tourism. "Certainly, hope not."  According to recent documents, there are only two companies in the country that work with the vintage trolley cars. Plus, some trolley stations on Main and Madison will need to be removed and replaced. For now, MATA says a maintenance team is maintaining the empty tracks. MATA OKs contract with Transpro, gets new interim CEO After purchasing the brakes, getting them installed and tested, MATA will have to notify TDOT six months before they anticipate the trolleys starting back.  Mark Parsell owns South Main Sound, and sees the impacts of the trolley shutdown daily. "Tourists are a big thing, but we all forget about the fact that there are people that use the trolleys to get to and from work and to and from, the store," Parsell said. "It's hurt foot traffic down certainly to this end of South Main." Wednesday, the Memphis Area Transit Authority board accepted an eight-month consulting contract worth more than $1 million, as well as a new interim leadership team.