LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville’s public transportation agency, the Transit Authority of River City, is facing a dire financial situation. Leaders say they need to make significant service reductions to help balance the budget.

What You Need To Know

  • The Transit Authority of River City is facing a financial situation and to help balance the budget they say tey need to make significant service reductions

  • TARC riders are concerned saying proposed budget cuts would make the already struggling system even worse

  • The board-approved service reductions follow a plan called "Saturday plus” which is similar to how buses currently run on the weekends, meaning fewer buses are scheduled Monday through Friday

  • The service reductions would go into effect on Jan. 5, 2025

Jared Cassity relies on public transportation to get to school, work and his daily activities. Cassity says TARC’s proposed budget cuts would make the already struggling system even worse.

“I have had multiple issues with missing work because of the TARC, because there’s not enough routes, and the next route that comes to get me into my job is an hour away,” said Cassity.

TARC’s board of directors says it won’t be able to meet expected expenses by 2026 without changes to its budget.

Cassity says he’ll have to reconsider how he gets around and is worried that may mean buying a car.

“And that’s going to be another expense for me that cuts into my already tight budget. I relied on the TARC to save me a lot of money, honestly. And it has saved me when it comes to having to pay rent and groceries, because I’m not spending all that money on a car payment, gas, etc,” said Cassity.

Cassity says public transportation also combats climate change.               

“Climate change is a big issue. And one of the key necessities for fighting that is going to be increasing public transportation, making sure that working-class people can get where they need to go without being car dependent,” said Cassity.

The board-approved service reductions follow a plan called “Saturday plus,” which is similar to how buses currently run on the weekends, meaning fewer buses are scheduled Monday through Friday.

Cassity hopes others will see that public transportation like TARC is vital in Louisville.

“Public transportation is an absolute necessity, and a world where we’re fighting climate change, in a city where we need working-class people to be able to get to their jobs, where public transportation is critical,” said Cassity.

The service reductions would go into effect on Jan. 5, 2025. TARC-3 services will not be affected.

Officials claim the financial situation results from several factors, including the fact that Jefferson County’s occupational tax hasn’t increased in 50 years. Metro Council will consider the proposed budget as part of their fiscal year 2025 budget. Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, is scheduled to give his budget address on April 25.

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