LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In April, the Transit Authority of River City passed its 2025 budget, and it included several route reductions. Now, TARC is showing the community how those reductions will affect those who rely on the buses to get around Louisville.
Alimntu Uthman has been riding the TARC since she was nine years old. She says she lost her previous job because of the unreliability of public transportation. Now with these proposed cuts, she believes things are only going to get worse.
“I was very unhappy about it because, like, I live the 20, 30 Kentucky. They cut the 22nd route. It used to be run Monday to Sunday. It’s not it’s not anymore. And I use just a lot like a half a block to get to the bus. So now I got gotta walk through 18th Street. It takes more time to get to where are you going if you have somewhere to be,” said Uthman.
TARC is facing a historic financial challenge forcing them to make cuts. TARC administration says if they do not reduce their service levels by July 1, 2026, they will not meet payroll.
TARC’s marketing and communications director Alex Posorske said the proposed changes are the least disruptive way that TARC can take action to deal with the financial crunch while still providing basic levels of service.
“So instead of maybe two or three busses an hour, there’s only one bus an hour or so, less frequency and longer waits for riders. But the plus part of Saturday Plus is trying to keep as much of that essential service out there as possible. So one of the big pieces for that is around our four highest frequency, most popular busses,” said Posorske.
According to TARC, the proposed service adjustments will affect 22 of TARC’s 30 fixed-route bus lines. The frequency of 19 routes will be reduced to the current Saturday service levels, and three of the least-used routes will be eliminated. Service levels on eight of the most widely used routes will remain unchanged and TARC3 para-transit service will not be affected.
At the meeting, TARC shared information and maps showing the route changes and those that will remain the same. Posorske said the decision to reduce routes hasn’t been easy for TARC and it believes keeping its customers informed is critical for them.
“Give the community an opportunity again, to push back on changes, to tell us where things could potentially be different. So we’re able to bring those comments to the board before these changes are finalized Friday,” said Posorske.
TARC services nearly 20,000 riders daily. Gracie Lewis said she came to the meeting to voice her opinion because these changes will affect many. Lewis believes TARC should be expanding its routes, and should be fully funded.
“I take the para-transit for of TARC, which right now is not being affected. But just like everything else, it stands the potential of being cut. I do not believe that when they say that they are not going to touch that. But, so I do think that it’s important right now that we focus on the overall public and I do not agree with any of those cuts. We’re not a city where they have subways where they’ve got options. They don’t have an option here,” said Lewis.
Uthman sometimes takes an Uber or a Lyft to work, but she says that isn’t a sustainable form of transportation for her.
Uthman said, “Especially with those weekend routes being cut, what about the families that don’t have cars? They have to get to work first, second or third shift, and then they’re cutting the routes. So then people will be losing their jobs, can’t get to work.”
TARC’s proposed service reductions will take effect on June 30. Folks can continue to share their input Wednesday, June 5 at Douglass Boulevard Christian Church from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Anyone who can’t make the meeting can also submit their by email: publiccomment@ridetarc.org.
There’s a board meeting on Friday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. where TARC will formally consider the changes, as well as the Jefferson County Public Schools agreement that we reached earlier this week.