LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- TARC is headed over a financial cliff, and on the other side of it are huge cuts in service.
Twenty percent of the TARC budget is American Rescue Plan money, which funds 40-50% of all routes, and Thursday night, Metro Council members got their first look at what a much smaller TARC system will look like as it faces "historic financial challenges."
"It is a struggle, actually is a really bad struggle," Cici Mitchell, who rides TARC, said.
Mitchell is all too aware of the coming route cuts, she is one step away from getting her drivers license.
"It's already hard, I can just imagine what it is going to be later on, it's just going to get harder," Mitchell said.
And Ozzy Gibson, the interim executive director, agrees.
"Well, a 50% cut means 50% of our routes is going to go away, and that is not good," Gibson said.
A consultant hired by the city presented two alternatives for smaller TARC. The first is two super routes, one running east and west and the other north and south with buses running every couple of minutes, the second covers more ground, but the buses run like once an hour.
"Or maybe a plan in between the two," Gibson said.
Its TARC 2025 plan will focus on the future of agency, weighing two proposals: one that will end with a "significant" cut to routes given the lowered operating revenue projected, and the other would show how TARC would function with additional revenue.
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.
Over the past 20 years the federal dollars spigot provided a smooth ride to work for Morgan Harris, she expects the route cuts will cut deeper than just her ride to work.
"To me it's probably going to slow me down, but to Louisville I'm sure it's going to effect people's jobs," Harris said.
The first set of route cuts start at the end of June and the next big cuts come next summer.
The TARC board will ultimately make the decision on what a smaller TARC system will look like but they're expected to take public input starting in November.
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