TARC Board approves 4 route cuts and an additional $1 fare for express routes

The TARC Board of Directors took action yesterday to help TARC make up a projected $5.5 million shortfall by reducing service and adding $1 to the $1.50 fare for express routes only. The route changes and service reductions will go into effect Sunday, June 6. The fare increase will be effective July 1.

The slate of schedule reductions will save TARC an estimated $3.5 million and the fare increase is expected to generate enough revenue to keep all express routes operating. In March, 12 of 16 express routes had been proposed for elimination. Many express riders who attended the public hearings March 9 through 11 said they would pay more to keep the express service.

The other changes approved by the board include the elimination of four local routes and service reductions on 20. Another eight routes will have some route adjustments.

Besides continuing the express routes, the board also voted to preserve Route #12 – Twelfth Street and Route #22- Twenty-second Street. The #58 – Bashford Manor –Oxmoor will be eliminated but a one-day shopper shuttle to Bashford Manor and Oxmoor Mall will take its place so that seniors in the area will have access to shopping.

The elimination of the Fourth Street Trolley and service reductions on the Main-Market Trolley are on hold while a proposal for outside funding is developed.


The board voted to eliminate the following four routes:
#80 Hurstbourne Parkway
#59 River Road
#35 Indian Trail
#58 Bashford Manor/Oxmoor.

The following 20 routes will see service reductions effective June 6:

#2 Second Street
#4 Fourth Street
#6 Sixth Street
#17 Bardstown Road
#19 Muhammad Ali
#21 Chestnut Street
#25 Oak Street
#27 Hill Street
#29 Eastern Parkway
#31 Middletown
#37X Iroquois Park Express
#45X Okolona Express
#49X Westport Express
#50X Dixie Express
#52 Medical Center Circulator
#54X Manslick Express
#66X Mt. Washington-Shepherdsville Express
#67X Oldham 1-71 Express
#72 Clarksville-New Albany.
#75 Bluegrass Industrial Shuttle

Additionally these routes will have routing changes:
#6 Sixth Street, #17 Bardstown Road, #18 Preston-18th Street; #21 Chestnut Street, #23 Broadway, #62 Breckenridge-Shepherdsville, #75 Bluegrass Industrial Shuttle and #78X Bluegrass Express. One of those changes is to ensure that Shalom Towers on Dutchmans Lane will continue to have service. It will continue be served by the #23 Broadway route instead of the #58 Bashford Manor/Oxmoor.

At the Feb. 22 board meeting, 12 express routes were proposed for elimination. These routes will continue to run, funded by the $1 additional fare to be paid by express route riders.

Riders who are paying $1.50 cash, transferring or using one-ride tickets will be required to pay the additional $1 fare. A monthly express pass will be available for $80.

All express route riders will be subject to the additional fare. These are the 12 routes that had been slated for elimination:

#37X – Iroquois-Fairdale Express
#38X – Deering Express
#45X – Okolona Express
#49X – Westport Road Express
#50X – Dixie Express
#53X – Breckenridge Express
#54X – Manslick Express
#61X – Plainview Express
#64X – Fincastle-Forest Springs Express
#66X – Mount Washington Express
#68X – Prospect Express
#73X – Charlestown Road Express


It has not yet been determined if riders who use a pre-paid employer ID will have to pay the $1. Discussions with those employers are underway.

Look for new schedules printed on yellow paper on the buses and in schedule racks throughout the area. For additional information call 585-1234, TTY 213-3240. Schedules and maps can be viewed and downloaded from the TARC web site at www.ridetarc.org.