TARC route reductions will now start at the end of June because of agreement with JCPS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The timeline to reduce TARC routes has been expedited because of an agreement between the state's largest school district and city's sole public transit system.

Beginning June 30, TARC will reduce more than half of its 30 routes to run on a Saturday schedule. That means it will run for fewer hours during the day or less frequently. Three routes will be eliminated completely.

TARC suggested it would cut back routes in January 2025, due to its ongoing financial crisis. The city's public transportation agency is about to lose 20% of its annual revenue with funding from the American Rescue Plan ending.

On top of that, Alex Posorske, TARC's director of marketing and communications, added the Jefferson County Occupational Tax has not been adjusted in 50 years, and that state funding is not high for public transit, which is a nationwide issue.

"This is not something anyone at TARC wants to see," said Posorske. "Good chunk of TARC employees, myself included, take the TARC bus to work almost every day, it's something we feel as well."

However, the decision to move route reductions up had to do with TARC's announcement with Jefferson County Public Schools on Monday.

To avoid layoffs at TARC, about 70 TARC drivers who will provide transportation for students at some JCPS magnet schools.

The district has been actively recruiting drivers as it deals with a bus driver shortage, and recently eliminated transportation for all magnet and traditional school students with the exception of Central and Western high schools, which have a high percentage of students on free or reduced lunch.

Because of this agreement, TARC will need to transition drivers sooner than originally planned to allow time for them to practice JCPS routes ahead of the new school year.

The drivers will still be considered TARC employees, with company benefits, and will earn the same salary as JCPS drivers.

"This process moved much faster than we would have liked it to, but when you’re faced with a financial situation like we are sometimes that is the case, that things have to move fast," said Posorske.

TARC's four busiest routes will remain the same. That includes:

#4 — 4th Street
#10 — Dixie Rapid
#23 — Broadway
#28 — Preston Highway.

TARC said almost half of its daily boardings are on one of those four lines. However, the reductions will still impact several riders.

Lashell Carter is saving up to buy a car, and fears the reduction will mean she has to get up even earlier to catch a bus, or risk being late to work.

"I gotta get up at like 4:20 and stuff like that and my bus don't come until 5:15," Carter said. "It keeps changing and I just really feel like they need to find a schedule and stick with it."

William Mayes recently retired and relies solely on TARC to get to doctors appointments or to enjoy community events.

Mayes lives off of Cane Run Road in south Louisville, and said it is already difficult for him to enjoy local events in the evening because his bus routes don't typically run past 10 p.m.

"It makes it a lot harder," Mayes said. "I want to be part of and enjoy the community and (when) you can't do much of it, it makes things more isolating and lonely."

TARC hosted an open house meeting to answer questions and take feedback about the route reductions on Tuesday at its headquarters in Union Station on Broadway.

Riders will have a second chance to share their thoughts or get questions answered on Wednesday, June 5. The meeting will be held at Douglass Boulevard Christian Church from 5-8 p.m.

Other opportunities to provide feedback include:

TARC’s online comment system
TARC’s social media platforms
Customer Care Line: 502-585-1234
Email: publiccomment@ridetarc.org
In-person at TARC Union Station (1000 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203)

To address long-term solutions, TARC is also working on "TARC 2025."

According to its website, "Through this year-long initiative, we will work directly with the community to develop strategies for an updated TARC transit network that will better meet the region’s needs and priorities within the reality of the funding TARC expects to receive over the next 5-10 years."

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