Major implications at stake as TARC, JCPS negotiate agreement for drivers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Deal or no deal? TARC and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) are still working on an agreement to help TARC drivers get hired on as school bus drivers.

At stake for TARC is protecting jobs and for JCPS it's bus routes. If the two sides don't reach an agreement then some parents may have to make tough decisions.

Shavonda Stoner has two children who attend JCPS. Because of the ongoing driver shortage, Stoner drives both children to school.

"One goes to school in the west end, and one goes in the lower part of the east end so they go at the same time," Stoner said.

"We're still hopeful that we can solve a community problem," TARC Interim Executive Director Ozzy Gibson said.

This week, TARC posted a message to riders on its website about a proposed service reduction.

"The reason we put that out is there again, we are under time constraints to make something happen," Gibson said.

Gibson said if an agreement is reached with JCPS, there will be a reduction in service and routes beginning on June 30.

"There are several routes where there will be no changes, that's eight of our top routes this is not going to impact paratransit," Gibson said.

If an agreement is not reached, TARC will delay the service reductions but there will be layoffs.

"We're projecting right now 70 and that's a big deal," Gibson said. "That's a big deal for us."

"I think it's gonna be a trickle down effect," said Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins. 

Councilwoman Hawkins represents many of the families impacted by the bus driver shortage and shared why she believes there's a correlation between the transportation issue and violence.

"We think the crime is bad now, every day there's a homicide in different districts, I am going to say that will double," Hawkins said. "Because you will have more kids left out here, no rights to school, no access to education."

Metro Council President Markus Winkler has been part of the negotiations and believes they're close to an agreement.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that TARC and JCPS will be able to find a path forward," Winkler said. "That restores service for at least a fair number of kids and in our city."

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