After service reductions, TARC using federal grant to help purchase new electric buses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After implementing service reductions, Transit Authority of River City is making a multimillion-dollar investment in new electric buses.

All or most of the buses in TARC's fleet were purchased with federal grants, which typically pay for equipment and other capital improvements.

Kentuckiana's public transportation agency was one of the first municipal transit systems to buy electric buses, but most of them are out of service.

For the past 10 years, TARC has been the only way for Carl Ray to get around. His trip to and from work requires him to catch four different buses.

"Since it changed, it made it worse for me," Ray said. "And it messes me up because they are already delayed, and I have to leave a little bit earlier than I have to regularly."

With the federal spigot of money that supported about 20% of TARC's service gone, the agency has found the federal well is not completely dried up.

"We are looking at eight buses, newer generation electric buses that will be delivered over the next two years," said Alex Posorske, director of marketing and communications for TARC.

TARC is using federal money to buy the buses from Gillig, the same company that provided its current diesel-powered fleet of buses.

The agency couldn't provide the exact cost of the buses, but according to the Gillig website, the buses are expected to cost $988,000, and a federal grant is picking up most of the tab.

"So the federal grant is typically 80% of the share, and the 20% local match," Posorske said.

TARC was one of the first transit authorities to buy electric buses and charging stations. But five of the 10 electric buses the city bought in 2015 with a $10.7 million federal grant are sitting, covered in dust. The buses proved to be hard to maintain and are most likely never going to be used again.

"At a certain point, you need to be responsible with taxpayer money and the cost of getting those buses operational, when you already saw a lot of issues with them," said Posorske.

TARC did buy five additional electric buses. Some are used in downtown Louisville, and use charging stations to keep moving.

Ray said that in his 10 years as a TARC rider, he has yet to see an electric bus, and doesn't care what fuels the bus.

"Put it back the regular way it was," he said, adding that he just wants dependable service.

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