TARC defends fare hike as necessary for future of Louisville bus system

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — It'll cost more to ride the bus in Louisville starting Monday, March 2.

The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) Board of Directors approved updates to the fare schedule Tuesday after public engagement and a federally required Title VI review process.

This is the first fare change since 2012.

TARC Executive Director Ozzy Gibson said he doesn't plan to ask for more funding until he can justify asking people to pay more in taxes.

Riders had mixed opinions Wednesday about the rate increase.

A seven-day pass will go from $15 to $25, and a 30-day pass will go from $50 to $75. The adult fare increases from $1.75 to $2.25.

"Anything you buy and touch has gone up," Gibson said.

Gibson said he isn't sure why prices weren't increased before.

TARC was in a rough financial situation when Gibson became executive director in 2024.

"If we had stayed on the same path, we were going to go broke in 2027," Gibson said.

According to Gibson, TARC has since balanced its budget. Several routes were cut in 2024 due to low ridership.

Gibson said increasing fares for all riders is necessary to be sustainable and improve technology.

"We need the TARC so if they need a little bit more it's not extreme so pick and choose what you're going to complain about," TARC rider Ron Allen said.

Although some people are OK with the fare increases, others like Theresa Horsley think the costs should stay the same.

"Everything is messed up right now this is not the time," Horsley said. "I don't think they should do that right now."

She's most concerned about the cost increase for disabled TARC riders who use the paratransit.

"It's going up to $4.50," Horsley said. "That's wrong to me, that's wrong, they can't afford that and I don't think that's right."

Gibson said it cost $20 million to fund the outsourced paratransit. With aging populations continuing to grow, Gibson expressed concern about how public transit systems across the country will manage increasing costs associated with paratransit.

The one thing that hasn't increased is TARC's $105 million budget.

"There’s people coming to me all the time asking, 'Ozzy why ain’t you asking for more money.' You show me the riders and I’ll ask for more money," Gibson said. "That’s just how that works. I don’t want to keep putting empty buses out there."

Gibson said they want to gain the community's trust by showing up on time and catering to their needs to hopefully improve ridership.

He said TARC will analyze its ridership every two years, adding that he will make changes if there is a need to adjust.

"I am using your tax dollars," he said. "I need to be very good and sure of where I spend every dollar you give me."