LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Transit Agency of River City (TARC) announced its Executive Director, Carrie Butler, is resigning at the end of the year.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville and the TARC Board of Directors accepted the resignation, which is effective Dec. 31, 2023. An interim Executive Director will be named later. Butler will be a consultant to TARC from Jan. 1, 2024 to June, 30, 2024. Greenberg’s office will conduct a nationwide search for her replacement.

Butler has been TARC’s Executive Director since Aug. 2020. She took over an agency involved in personnel and financial investigations from the previous administration. She also steered the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic, which included “unprecedented levels of declining ridership and revenue and a greatly reduced workforce.”

“I am proud of the work we were able to accomplish during the most tumultuous time in TARC’s 50-year history,” said Butler. “I’m especially grateful for the men and women of TARC who kept our buses rolling during COVID. I’m confident I’m leaving TARC in better condition than when I came on board.”

In a release, Greenberg said, “We are grateful for Ms. Butler’s service and all that she has done to steer TARC forward during the challenges of the last few years.” He added, “Since Day 1 my team and I have been committed to building a better Louisville and robust and sustainable public transit is a core part of that vision. We look forward to identifying TARC’s next dynamic leader and will initiate a national search immediately.”

TARC Board Chair Ted Smith said, “We’re grateful for her service and we assure both TARC staff and TARC customers that there will be a thorough search to identify the best individual to build on our existing strengths and lead TARC forward in the coming years.” 

Butler worked on various initiatives for TARC, including: 

• Leading negotiations resulting in a successful collective bargaining agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1447 in the fall of 2022

• Completing work on TARC’s long-term strategic plan TARC Tomorrow that provides a blueprint for future TARC improvement projects over the next decade

• Preparing for implementation of several innovative new TARC features, like mobile ticketing and an on-demand mobility pilot, both set to debut in 2024

• Completing the modernization of TARC’s existing fleet of fixed-route vehicles and setting plans in motion for a transition to a zero-emission bus fleet in the coming years

   

Butler had previously worked at TARC as the Director of Planning from 2002 to 2010. Before returning to the agency as Executive Director, she served as General Manager of Lextran—Lexington’s public transit agency—for five years, as well as in several leadership roles in transit and consulting throughout the country.