Union: TARC drivers want changes to daily operations amid COVID-19 outbreak

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Employees at the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) are hoping for major changes in daily operations as COVID-19 continues to spread across Kentuckiana.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which represents bus drivers and support workers, said protocols and work conditions need to change to help prevent the spread of the new virus.

Many bus drivers are packed into crowded garages and rooms, union representatives said, and workers who have had confirmed contact with COVID-19 cases have been pushed to continue working.

To support social distancing, drivers want to do away with bus fares and to have riders enter at the rear of buses only. They are also asking for gloves, masks and sanitizer for workers and riders.

Theo Hamilton, president of the ATU Branch 1447, said bus drivers in other cities across the county are operating with backdoor service only.

"... this is Cincinnati and Toledo; they're all doing backdoor service," Hamilton said. "All of California is doing it; all of New Jersey, all of New York is doing it.

"We're not as big as any of these," he added, "but they're refusing to take care of their employees and their customers."

In response, TARC said it began operating on a reduced service schedule on March 20 and gave drivers preparedness kits, which include gloves, sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

"Fare-free service continues to be discussed, as well as back of the bus entry," said Jeremy Priddy, TARC's executive communications manager, in a statement. "However, moving quickly to fare-free service could potentially increase the risk of COVID-19 with the increase in ridership that would result."

TARC will continue to monitor ridership on its routes and add buses "where needed to help with social distancing," Priddy added.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Priddy said that all TARC drivers are now required to call in for an extra bus once they have 15 passengers onboard, and they are not allowed to have more than 25 passengers per bus.