Former longtime executive director of TARC in Louisville dies at 73

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former executive director of the Transit Authority of River City has died.

J. Barry Barker served as executive director of TARC for more than 20 years. He was a national leader and advocate for public transit, according to his obituary.

Barker died on Dec. 2 in Louisville at the age of 73 years old.

He was inducted into the Kentucky Transportation Hall of Fame in 2018. He was also named Outstanding Public Transportation Manager of the Year by the American Public Transportation Association in 2007.

"Barry was incredibly passionate about ensuring transit access for all, and he worked tirelessly for four decades toward that goal," Barker's obituary states. "He loved his work and shared it with everyone he could–dinner-table conversations with his family often included discussions of bus rapid transit, real-time alerts, and transit logistics."

Memorial services are planned for January 2025.

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