TARC asking riders for input on transit needs amid financial uncertainty

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Transit Authority of River City said in lieu of its $30 million deficit, the public transportation agency is looking at how to do more with less and still service its customers.

As it faces "historic financial challenges," TARC is holding hundreds of public and private meetings over the next several months. This is the time for people to speak up.

"What I don't want is, when we go to make another big change, I don't want somebody to say 'I didn't know you were doing that,'" said Ozzy Davis, interim executive director for TARC.

That's why the agency said it's calling on the community to comment on which routes are most important to them.

"A lot of folks down here depend on it," said Phillip Clark, a TARC rider. "We go to work, we've got regular jobs."

TARC held a bus stop pop-up Monday afternoon in the city's west end on the corner of Cecil Avenue and Broadway.

Clark, who lives near the area, stopped by to share some of his concerns.

"I think it's important that folks speak up about what's needed," Clark said.

Clark works in downtown Louisville at Slugger Field. He said his commute is smooth, and he waits only 15 minutes to catch a bus to and from work.

"I get home quick, I get in the air conditioning quick," Clark said.

Feedback from the survey and listening sessions will help TARC navigate their new strategy called TARC 2025. The strategy has two concepts — rider and coverage.

The rider concept would focus on areas with heavy transit use and provide more frequency.

"Frequency meaning the bus may come by every 15 minutes or 30," said Davis. "That gives you, the citizen, a lot of options to go to a lot of different places."

The coverage concept would focus on providing some coverage to most of the area.

TARC will host 120 meetings over the next month that will allow riders to share which routes are most important to them.

"My poor crew is tired, but we want as much input and feedback (as we can get) from the community," Davis said.

Regina Bailey used to ride the TARC.

"I think they should rethink some of the routes they are thinking about shutting down, because you have people that don't have no way to get around," Bailey said.

The feedback from these meetings will then be presented to the board, who will make a decision on which plan to roll out later this year.

TARC 2025 will conclude next spring, with final proposals released in February or March.

TARC is supported by occupational taxes, 2.2% of Louisville workers paychecks, a combination state funding from Indiana and Kentucky, 15% from fares and 20% from federal government.

For more information on the meetings, click here.

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