TARC riders not happy about proposed route changes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Merging routes, eliminating others and longer waits for the bus -- they're all part of some proposed changes made by TARC. But some Louisville residents aren't happy about the plan.

This morning, the Nia Center, one of TARC's major transport hubs at the corner of 29th St. and Broadway, was a "packed house" of bus riders who were concerned about how proposed reroutes would affect them.

The public hearing -- which was run more like an "open house" according to WDRB's Gilbert Corsey -- lasted until one. TARC employees sat down with each rider to provide them with options for getting them to their transport points under the proposed changes. Many in the crowd were elderly.

Many were concerned in particular about a merger of Routes 25 and 55, which would create a link between east and west Louisville, but eliminate service to part of the West End.

Clarence Darby, Jr., a TARC bus rider with severe back problems, said neither he, nor his wife, were in favor of the changes.

"My wife here, she works at night, too," he said. "That will create a great difficulty for her, see? So we don't like none of the changes that is coming up. I don't like it. It ain't benefiting us."

Arc faces a $4 million budget hole. The changes are expected to save $8 million.

Last year, TARC proposed eliminating 10 express routes. Backlash saved five of the routes. Right now, this is a proposal and not a done deal. The public hearing continues until 1:00 Tuesday afternoon, and four more public hearings are scheduled this week. The next is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the McDowell Center tonight.