LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's public bus service agency said Thursday the previously announced cuts to three routes and service changes to numerous others will take effect Jan. 26.
The Transit Authority of River City hosted 164 public meetings this year as part of its long-term plan to meet what leaders have called a "fiscal cliff." All that input will inform that larger plan, TARC 2025, which is set to be unveiled in draft form sometime next year.
But before that, TARC felt it needed to make incremental changes to meet the financial challenges it faces. In announcing the route changes that will take effect in January, TARC said they will "ensure a more reliable TARC" and address a projected $30 million deficit coming in fiscal year 2027 if action isn't taken by then.
"One of the reasons TARC is facing both reliability challenges and a fiscal cliff is that hard decisions were put off for too long," TARC Executive Director Ozzy Gibson said in a news release Thursday. "TARC leadership is focused on effective strategies to navigate through the current financial challenges and ensure a stronger, more reliable, and more sustainable TARC.
The changes outlined below will save the agency $4 million annually, officials said, a way to "ensure future sustainability."
"Above all, TARC needs to ensure reliable, predictable service and to ensure long-term financial sustainability," Gibson said in a news release. "These changes are necessary to accomplish those goals."
These are the changes set to take effect Jan. 26:
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.
(Graphic courtesy of the TARC)
Related Stories:
- TARC to install new screens with real-time information on select buses
- TARC prepares riders for cuts in January, future route redesign
- TARC cuts 3 bus routes in Louisville in effort to meet 'historic financial challenges'
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