TARC service reductions to begin 6/30/24

May 21, 2024

As our community learned last month, TARC is facing a financial crisis as the agency will soon lose 20 percent of its operating budget as America Rescue Plan funding comes to an end.  Due to this challenge, a tough decision was made to reduce the frequency of routes by 2025. This would also result in fewer TARC drivers being needed.

Our city is currently experiencing another transportation challenge as our school system faces serious bus driver vacancies. While there is no perfect solution to either situation, we see an opportunity to support both TARC drivers, our schools, and our city. 

The service reductions will reduce weekday service on affected lines to levels typically seen on Saturday. The service reductions will only impact fixed route service – at this time TARC3 service will remain the same.

Specific details on the service reductions can be found below. Community members can comment on the service reductions at two public meetings:

• Tuesday, June 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Union Station, 1000 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203
• Wednesday, June 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Douglass Boulevard Christian Church, Louisville, KY 40205

TARC will be accepting public comment via an online comment system, and TARC’s social media. Community members can also comment via TARC’s Customer Care Line at 502-585-1234, or by email to publiccomment@ridetarc.org.  

The service changes are the first step toward addressing a looming fiscal cliff. Action is necessary – without changes to the budget, TARC will be unable to meet expected expenses by mid-2026. 

“This is not an easy decision,” said TARC Executive Director Ozzy Gibson. “But this is an opportunity to avoid layoffs and keep hard-working Louisvillians employed and able to support their families. And by keeping more TARC staff working under the TARC umbrella, we’re preserving our ability to provide expanded service in the future if revenue is found.”

The service changes follow below. You can also find an additional overview of changes by clicking here. Please note that all routes will maintain their current hours and frequencies on Saturdays and Sundays.

Routes with no service changes
Route #4 Fourth Street
Route #10 Dixie Rapid
Route #22 Twenty Second Street
Route #23 Broadway
Route #28 Preston Highway
Route #75 Bluegrass Circulator
Route #93 UPS Shuttle-UofL-JCTC
Route #99 UPS Shuttle West Louisville

Routes moving to Saturday Plus Service (please see attached pocket schedule for details)
Route #2 Second Street
Route #6 Sixth Street
Route #12 Twelfth Street
Route #15 Market Street
Route #17 Bardstown Road
Route #18 Dixie Highway
Route #19 Muhammad Ali Blvd
Route #21 Chestnut Street
Route #25 Oak-Westport Crosstown
Route #27 Hill Street
Route #29 Eastern Parkway
Route #31 Shelbyville Road
Route #40 Taylorsville Road
Route #43 Portland Poplar Level
Route #52 Medical Center Circulator
Route #63 Crums Lane
Route #71 Jeffersonville-Louisville-New Albany
Route #72 Clarksville
Route #94 Cardinal Shuttle

Routes being discontinued
Route #46 National Turnpike-Outer Loop
Route #73 West Louisville-River Ridge
Route #74 Chamberlain Lane-River Ridge