LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville’s public transportation agency is fighting to keep its service going.
Last month, the Transit Authority of River City announced budget cuts which will reduce service to some routes starting in Jan. 2025.
Lillian Brents is the President Business Agent of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1447. She’s a bus driver herself and has been fighting for the cause.
“Somebody told me I couldn’t and so I started driving a bus, of course,” Brents said.
She’s now going on 16 years behind the wheel.
“So right now we’re advocating for the Metro City Council to set aside funding for TARC. It’s never been done before, but that is why we’re advocating, because it needs to be done,” Brents said.
ATU Local 1447 is the union that represents TARC bus drivers.
“The public transit system should be fully funded, and our funding system has not changed since 1974. And so change is what we need in regards to funding,” Brents said.
TARC’s Board of Directors said last month that it won’t be able to meet expected expenses by 2026 without changes to its budget. So the board created a plan called “Saturday Plus,” which is how buses currently run on the weekends, meaning fewer buses will be scheduled Monday through Friday.
“For one, being born and raised here, I just cannot understand or be okay with the thought of the transit system dying because of funding,” Brents said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, said his office is working to create solutions for TARC and the bus route cuts to Jefferson County Public Schools families.
“By bringing JCPS and TARC leadership together, as well as their unions to work on a solution where JCPS families can have all the choice for all the magnet and academy schools that they’ve historically had the opportunity for,” Greenberg said.
In April, JCPS announced transportation cuts to almost all traditional and magnet school students. But JCPS needs bus drivers.
“And so we’re hopeful that we’ll have an agreement that we’ll be able to announce here in the very near future to support JCPS families while protecting TARC drivers. They are incredibly hard-working public servants who have been looking to support, and this is a way to continue to allow them to keep their job and support JCSP families,” Greenberg said.
In the meantime, Greenberg’s office is focused on finding a long-term strategy for TARC.
“We prioritize things that are important and transportation for all should be important to the city,” Brents said.
A Metro Council budget hearing is scheduled for June 4 at 6:15 p.m. to discuss more about TARC.