TARC Open House Meetings

TARC to Hold 11/13 and 11/14 Open House Meetings on Proposed Service Changes to Take Effect 1/26/2025

Goal is to improve reliability and continue to address TARC’s fiscal cliff

Louisville, Ky. (November 11, 2024) — Effective January 26, 2025, TARC plans to implement a series of service reductions and service changes. These service changes include three route discontinuations, route consolidations to absorb coverage of discontinued routes, two routing reductions, and frequency reductions on two additional routes.

TARC is holding two open-houses this week for the community to attend and learn about these proposed changes.

Public Meeting Schedule
Community members are invited to attend one of the following open house meetings to learn more and submit their comments:

Wednesday, November 13, 5 – 7 p.m. at Union Station, 1000 West Broadway
Thursday, November 14, 5 – 7 p.m. at Shively City Hall, 3920 Dixie Highway

Residents can stop by the open houses at any point during the scheduled times and will be able to talk to TARC staffers.

TARC customers and community members can also give their feedback on the proposed service changes via:

TARC’s online comment system at www.ridetarc.org
TARC’s social media platforms
Customer Care Line: 502-585-1234
Email: publiccomment@ridetarc.org
In-person at TARC Union Station (1000 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203)

Overview of service changes

Three route discontinuations (the #22, the #52, and the #63)
Two route consolidations to absorb coverage of discontinued routes (changes to the #18 18th Street and #29 Eastern Parkway)
Routing reductions (the #17 Bardstown and #25 Oak Street)
Frequency reductions (the #4 4th Street and #10 Dixie Highway will go from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes)
Assorted other changes, including an increase on frequency on the #29 Eastern Parkway and #40 Taylorsville Road to reduce the impact of the changes on TARC customers.

A full listing and details of the proposed service reductions and changes, as well as maps for relevant changes (Routes #4, #10, #17, #18, #25 & #29) are available here: https://www.ridetarc.org/overview-of-proposed-january-2025-service-changes/.

“Above all, TARC needs to ensure reliable, predictable service and to ensure long-term financial sustainability,” said TARC Executive Director Ozzy Gibson. “These changes are necessary to accomplish those goals.”

TARC typically makes service changes every six months. Sometimes these service changes are relatively minor schedule adjustments – other times they include more significant changes.

The proposed January 2025 service changes will help TARC accomplish two major current priorities:

· Ensure a more reliable TARC: Currently, TARC has too many routes with very low ridership and not enough operators to consistently operate them. The planned service reductions aim to enhance TARC’s reliability and on-time performance, providing a more dependable transit experience for customers.

· Continue to address TARC’s fiscal cliff: At the beginning of 2024 TARC projected a $30 million deficit in FY 2027 if action is not taken before then. These proposed reductions are anticipated to save $4 million annually, continuing to right size TARC to ensure future sustainability.

“One of the reasons TARC is facing both reliability challenges and a fiscal cliff is that hard decisions were put off for too long,” Gibson said. “TARC leadership is focused on effective strategies to navigate through the current financial challenges and ensure a stronger, more reliable, and more sustainable TARC.

TARC continues to advance the TARC 2025 network redesign process to determine the ultimate shape of the new TARC. Draft proposals for TARC 2025 are expected to be available for public review and comment this winter. Final proposals are expected by Summer 2025.

About TARC
TARC (Transit Authority of River City) delivers transportation services to the Greater Louisville community. With nearly 50 years of safe, reliable, and accessible service in the region, TARC and our team of 700 employees and contractors connect residents and visitors to the region with a diverse fleet operating across 32 routes in Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Learn more at ridetarc.org

Venue : Union Station