LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Before another round of cutbacks and changes to routes, the Transit Authority of River City wants to make sure riders know what to expect.

Louisville's public transportation system will discontinue three bus routes in January, areas serving downtown, west Louisville, Pleasure Ridge Park and Shively with a total of more than 500 daily boardings in September.

TARC said the changes also include four route adjustments, affecting Bardstown Road, Dixie Highway, Oak Street and Eastern Parkway. All of those changes will take effect Jan. 26, TARC said.

On Wednesday TARC hosted a town hall to explain the changes to riders and receive feedback at its headquarters on West Broadway.

Another town hall will be held on Thursday, at Shively City Hall from 5 to 7 p.m.

For Jaque Gardner, TARC is her main source of transportation to and from work. She said she understands the cutback, but said further reductions or elimination of TARC would have negative impacts. 

"It gets to effecting people's livelihood," she said. 

TARC's Exectuive Director, Ozzy Gibson, predicts these cuts will save TARC around $4 million. 

"We are facing a large financial cliff, and this is another way to chip away at it, and also try to be where we say we're going to be in on time," Gibson said.

For years, TARC has said it faces "historic financial challenges." Gibson has said for several months the lack of funding for the city's transit system is because of losing federal COVID-19 relief money, and lack of revenue from the city, state and federal government.

TARC said the route changes in January will "ensure a more reliable TARC" and "continue to address TARC's fiscal cliff," which it describes as a projected $30 million deficit coming in fiscal year 2027, if action isn't taken by then.

On a positive note, Gibson noted ridership is going up.

In the meantime, it continues to work on its route redesign project known as TARC 2025.

The agency collected months of public input as part of that plan, an effort to "ensure the system's long-term sustainability."

"The work we've already done is community engagement, well, has all been now presented back to the consultant, and what they will do the next several months, between now and January, is finalize two maps," Gibson said.

Gibson said those two plans will be considered. One option will be a plan TARC can afford that keeps routes close to where ridership is high, and cover less area. The second option, a "growth" plan will require more funding which runs more frequently and covers more area. 

"Those plans will come back from the consultant in late January, early February, and then we'll start our, what I call our dog and pony show all over again," Gibson said. "We'll go out to the public and get asked for engagement and what they think, and then make some tweaks, and come back and show it to the board and they'll vote on it."

In the meantime, riders like Gardner will be waiting to see what TARC's future will look like.

"It can be positive change for 2025, but we got to get through the rough spells," she said.

These are the changes set to take effect in January:

Discontinued Routes:

  • The #22 Twenty Second Street, which serves the 22nd Street corridor from Portland to Park DuValle
    • Route alternatives: In place of the #22, the #18 18th Street will be rerouted to absorb the #22's previous coverage north of Algonquin Parkway. Riders will also continue to have the option of using the #19 Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
    • Route stats:
      • September 2024 average daily boardings: 49
      • Current # of trips: 23 weekday trips. No current service Saturday or Sunday
  • The #52 Medical Center Circulator, which serves Market @ 8th Street to the LOUMED Hospital District
    • Route alternatives: Riders will continue to have the option of accessing the LOUMED hospital district via Routes #15, #19 #21, #23, #28, and #43.
    • Route stats:
      • September 2024 average weekday boardings: 57
      • Current # of trips: 13 weekday, 13 Saturday, does not operate on Sunday
  • The #63 Crums Lane, which serves Pleasure Ridge Park, Shively, into Downtown
    • Route alternatives: In place of the #63, the #29 will be rerouted to absorb coverage of Crums Lane (now Farnsley Lane due to permanent detour).
    • In addition to the #29, riders can use Routes #6, #10, #18, or #19 as alternatives, depending on where they are boarding.
    • There will be loss of service in the neighborhood south of Greenwood Road that will not be picked up by route #29
    • In addition to the #29, riders can use Routes #6, #10, #18, or #19 as alternatives, depending on where they are boarding.
    • Route stats:
      • September 2024 average daily boardings: 399
      • Current # of trips: 30 weekday, 26 Saturday, 24 Sunday

Adjusted/Absorbed Routes:

  • Route #17 Bardstown Road
    • Reduction in route length from northern end of line on 8th @ Market to Eastern Parkway @ Bardstown
    • Eastern Parkway @ Bardstown to become major transfer point.
    • Route alternatives: Riders needing to go downtown can catch the #23 Broadway along Bardstown, or #40 starting at Taylorsville Road
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 22 trips per day
      • Proposed # of trips: 22 per day
      • Current span of service: 6:00 am - 9:40 pm
      • Proposed span of service: 6:15 am -10:00 pm
  • Route #18 Dixie Highway
    • Will absorb Route #22 north of Algonquin Parkway
    • North end of line to be moved from Jefferson @ 6th to Northwestern Parkway @ 22nd.
    • Improved service on Saturday and Sunday (Route #22 did not operate on weekends).
    • Frequency improved from 60 minutes to 40 minutes.
    • Will no longer go downtown.
    • Loss of downtown connection to Routes #2, #4, #6, #28 #31, #40, and #72
    • Route alternatives: opportunities to reconnect along Routes #10, #15 #23, and #43
    • Last southbound trip will leave Portland Family Health Center 10:09 pm.
    • Last northbound trip will leave Dixie @ Greenwood @ 11:00 pm.
    • Discontinued service south of Greenwood Road to Meijers via Stonestreet Road and Valley Station Road
    • Route stats:
      • Current # of trips: 55 trips per weekday, 52 trips Saturday and Sunday
      • Proposed # of trips: 52 per day
      • Current span of service: 5:40 am - 11:45 pm
      • Proposed span of service: 5:30 am -11:00 pm
  • Route #25 Oak Street
    • Route adjustment eastbound to eliminate left turn on Springhurst Blvd from Westport Road. Instead, the route will continue down Westport Road, make a left turn on Chamberlain Lane and terminate at Norton Hospital.
    • Route adjustment westbound to eliminate right turn on 28th St from Oak Street. Instead, the route will continue on Virginia Ave, make a right turn on Cecil Ave, a right turn on Broadway, and terminate at Nia Center. The route will no longer continue to Shawnee Park.
    • Frequency improved from 70 minutes to 60 minutes.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 29 per day
      • Proposed # of trips: 30 per day
      • Current span of service: 6:15 am - 10:15 pm
      • Proposed span of service 5:20 am - 8:45 pm
  • Route #29 Eastern Parkway
    • Absorbing #63 coverage of Crums Lane (now Farnsley Lane due to permanent detour), Cane Run Road, Terry Road to West Pages. Trips will travel to West Pages Lane on Terry Road and alternate trips via Farnsley Lane and Rockford Lane.
    • Frequency improved from 60 minutes to 50 minutes
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 36 per weekday, 29 per Saturday and Sunday
      • Proposed # of trips 44 per weekday, 40 per Saturday and Sunday
      • Current span of service: 5:15 am - 10:15 pm weekday, 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.
      • Proposed span of service: 5:00 am - 11:15 pm weekday, 5:30 am - 10:30 pm Saturday and Sunday

Other Changes:

  • Route #4 Fourth Street
    • Change of frequency from 15 to 20 minutes
    • Elimination of third branch (Southside to Wal-Mart)
    • Branch Southside to Glengarry ends after 7 pm
    • No Service to Glengarry on Saturdays.
    • Last trip southbound leaves 6th @ Market, weekday 10:20 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:31 pm.
    • Last trip northbound leaves Walmart, weekday 11:15 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11:10 pm.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 132 weekday, 74 Saturday, 71 Sunday
      • Proposed # of trips 104 weekday, 70 trips per Saturday and Sunday
      • Current span of service: 5:00 am – 12:00 am weekday, 5:30 am – 12:00 am Saturday, 6:15 am - 12:00 am Sunday
      • Proposed span of service: 4:50 am - 11:15 pm weekday, 5:45 am - 11:10 pm Saturday and Sunday
  • Route #10 Dixie Rapid
    • Change of frequency from 15 minutes to 20 minutes.
    • Service to Watson Lane discontinued.
    • Last bus southbound to leave downtown at 10:30 pm.
    • Last bus northbound to leave Dixie Gardens 11:27 pm.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 138 weekday, 100 trips per Saturday and Sunday
      • Proposed # of trips: 113 weekday, 100 trips per Saturday and Sunday
      • Current span of service 4:00 am -11:15 pm weekday, 4:30 a -11:15 pm Saturday and Sunday.
      • Proposed span of service: 4:00 am - 11:30 pm weekday, 4:30 am - 11:30 pm Saturday and Sunday.
  • Route #40 Taylorsville Road
    • Frequency improved from 90 minutes to 70 minutes seven days a week.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 22 per day
      • Proposed # of trips: 27 trips per day.
      • Current span of service: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
      • Proposed span of service: 5:30 am - 8:15 pm.
  • Route #6 Sixth Street
    • Last trip southbound will leave 6th @ Market daily at 10:00 pm
    • Last trip northbound leaves Walmart daily at 11:09 pm
    • Last two trips northbound will service St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital.
    • The 12:02 pm trip northbound from Walmart will be eliminated.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips 37 per day
      • Proposed # of trips 36 per day
      • Current span of service: 5:20 am - 11:00 pm
      • Proposed span of service: No change from current span of service.
  • Route #15 Market Street
    • Improved start time westbound leaving Holiday Manor at 5:51 am.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 34
      • Proposed # of trips: No change from current # of trips per day.
      • Current span of service: 5:40 am - 11:00 pm per weekday, operates 5:40 am - 9:15 pm per Saturday and Sunday
      • Proposed span of service: No change from current span of service per day.
  • Route #21 Chestnut Street
    • Improved eastbound timing leaving Shawnee Park at 4:27 am, arriving at WE Seay Plaza 15 min earlier.
    • Route stats
      • Current # of trips: 31
      • Proposed # of trips: No change from current # of trips per day.
      • Current span of service: 5:30 am - 9:30 pm per day
      • Proposed span of service: from 4:30 am - 9:30 pm weekday, no change to Saturday or Sunday current span of service.
  • Route #29 Eastern Parkway will be affected by permanent detour from Crums Lane to Farnsley Road because of the JCPS traffic
    • Losing front door access to some JCPS Schools:
    • Schools located on Crums Lane: Butler High School & Schaffner Elementary
    • Walkable distance approximately ½ mile to route 29 on Farnsley road,
    • Schools located on Greenwood Road: PRP High School and Greenwood Elementary
    • Walkable distance to #18 and #29 less than ¼ of a mile.
  • Route #29 Eastern Parkway will not service neighborhood south of Greenwood Road when heading to West Pages Lane.
    • Daffodil Drive, Morning Glory Drive, Devonshire Drive.
    • Walkable distance to #18 and #29 within ¼ of a mile.

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