Go Green Campaign News

More TARC reductions proposed for summer

Up to 20 additional routes eliminated under plan

By Dan Klepal dklepal@courier-journal.com • February 16, 2010

The Transit Authority of River City is proposing yet another round of service cuts — eliminating as many as 20 routes this summer because of a projected $5.5 million budget deficit next fiscal year.

The proposal will be made on the heels of cuts that begin Sunday, including the elimination of four routes and service reductions on 18 others. The new cuts could include reductions affecting 15 more routes — and possible layoffs — in addition to the 20 routes to be cut.

It would be the largest reduction of public bus service in the past 15 years.

“It's absolutely the wrong direction to be headed in,” said Barry Barker, TARC's executive director. “We are nowhere near the level (of service) that Louisville needs. We've got overcrowding that we're not able to respond to. When we talk about people being able to get to jobs and all of a sudden that bus isn't there anymore, it's tough.”

The new cuts are needed because of lagging occupational taxes — from which the agency derives 60 percent of its budget — and because $3.4 million in federal stimulus money used to cover operations this year will not be available in the agency's next budget.

Also, diesel fuel costs and employee pension payments are expected to increase by a combined $1 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Eliminating the 20 routes will save a combined $3 million and the other service cuts will bring the savings to almost $5 million, according to figures released by TARC.

Thirteen of the 20 routes targeted for elimination are express, which carry a collective average of 131 passengers every weekday. Express routes run only in the morning and evening hours and travel long distances.

No fare increases

Barker ruled out fare increases, saying higher fares could make bus service unaffordable for many people. He said the cuts could be avoided if additional money comes in from the federal or state governments.

For instance, there is a jobs bill under consideration in Congress that would allocate some money About 51,000 people ride TARC buses every weekday, and TARC is expecting about an 8 percent loss of ridership because of the changes.

“It's not a happy situation,” Barker said. “We'll look for any alternative we can.”

Six public hearings on the route reductions are scheduled for March 9-11. The TARC board will make its decision on how many routes to eliminate and change shortly after those hearings.

Barker said there were four goals when considering route changes: preserve routes that carry the most passengers; maintain a core network of routes; minimize the effect on as many riders as possible; and provide balanced geographic coverage.

Lecia Nolan moved to Parkhill in 1999, in part because a bus stop was right across the street from her house.

She takes the bus to the doctor, to the grocery store and to church.

But her route, the No. 12, is one of those proposed for elimination.

“The only reason I live here is that bus comes in front of my door,” Nolan said. “It's a necessity for me.”

Candidates slam cuts

Two mayoral candidates heavily involved with transportation issues decried the cuts Thursday.

“At a time when there is significant unemployment, when you start eliminating cost-effective transportation, you're making it that much more difficult to access the jobs that are out there,” said businessman Tyler Allen, a Democrat who is also co-founder of 8664, a grassroots organization that is lobbying for an alternative to a new downtown Ohio River bridge.

Jackie Green, an independent candidate for mayor, said that the cuts show TARC needs to be funded differently.

“It's a sad thing,” he said. “The impact is that it is going to drive people to use their cars more, which are not for the good of their personal economies. And as we face EPA's new (air pollution) standards, it will spell even more trouble for us.”

Chris Poynter, a spokesman for Mayor Jerry Abramson, called the possible elimination of the routes “unfortunate.”

“It's all tied to the economy,” he said. “But they've been very thoughtful about how they've approached these cuts, wanting to eliminate routes that would touch the fewest people. The mayor is hopeful that once the economy turns and tax revenue comes back, TARC will be able to restore those routes.”

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