KIPDA Winter 2010 Horizons Newsletter now available

KIPDA's winter newsletter is on our website. Check out this quarter's edition and found out about:

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects update


• The Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan


• New TARC bus designs


• The 2010 Census


• What is the leading cause of Kentucky's accidents?

And more....
To see this quarter's newsletter go to http://www.kipda.org/files/PDF/Transportation_Division/Newsletters/KIPDA_Transportation_Newsletter_-_Winter_2010.pdf

If you'd like to receive the newsletter, email Josh Suiter at Josh.Suiter@ky.gov with your name, address, city, state, zip code, email address (if you have one). Also, if you have story ideas or things you might like to see in the newsletter, email Suiter those details as well.

TARC has another round of proposed cuts

Due to dropping revenues and increased expenses, the TARC Board of Directors will consider additional service reductions at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 22. At the meeting, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Union Station, the board will review proposed service cuts designed to make up TARC’s projected budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 11, which begins July 1. The proposed cuts would reduce TARC’s expenses by about $5 million and could include eliminating service on up to 20 routes and reducing service on another 16 routes.

The proposed service changes are in addition to those taking effect Sunday, Feb. 21. Those entail eliminating four routes and reducing service on 18 routes. A full list of those changes is available on the website at http://www.ridetarc.org/.

At Monday’s meeting, the following service reductions will be proposed:

Routes proposed for elimination:
#1 – Fourth Street Trolley
#12 – Twelfth Street
#22 – Twenty-Second Street
#35 – Indian Trail-Hikes Lane
#37X – Iroquois-Fairdale Express
#38X – Deering Express
#45X – Okolona Express
#49X – Westport Road
#50X – Dixie Express
#53X – Breckenridge Express
#54X – Manslick Express
#58 – Bashford Manor-Oxmoor
#59 – River Road
#61X – Plainview
#64X – Fincastle - Forest Springs Express
#66X – Mount Washington Express
#68X – Prospect Express
#73X – Charlestown Road Express
#75 – Bluegrass Circulator
#80 – Hurstbourne Parkway

Routes proposed for reduction of frequency (or more time between buses):
#2 – Second Street
# 4 – Fourth Street
#6 – Sixth Street
#19 - Muhammad Ali
#21 – Chestnut Street
#25 - Oak Street
#27 – Hill Street
#67X – Oldham I-71 Express
#72 – Clarksville-New Albany

Routes that may not run during the same hours:
#29 – Eastern Parkway
#31 – Middletown
#77 – Main-Market Trolley

Routes that may see a routing change:
#6 – Sixth Street
#17 – Bardstown Road
#18 - Preston – 18th Street
#21 – Chestnut Street
#23 – Broadway
#62 – Breckenridge-Shepherdsville

A chart of all the changes is available on TARC’s website, http://www.ridetarc.org/. TARC is soliciting public comment on the proposals through March 11. Feedback can be sent to TARC by clicking “Contact Us” on the website, or by calling 561-5112. The mailing address is TARC, Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203. Those wishing to discuss the changes and get more information about how they will be affected are invited to attend public hearings. The days and dates are as follows:

Tuesday, March 9
11 a.m to 1 p.m. at TARC Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway
5- 7 p.m. at Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Drive

Wednesday March 10
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bon Air Library, 2816 Del Rio Place
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, 180 West Spring St., in New Albany, Indiana
5-7 p.m. at the East End Government Center, 200 Juneau Drive

Thursday March 11
5-7 p.m. at TARC Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Language translators will also be provided upon request. Please call 561-5112 or 561-5115 with specific information on your special needs.

Technical committee elects chair, vice chair

The Transportation Technical Coordinating Committee elected its 2010 chairman and vice chairman during yesterday's meeting.

Matt Meunier (pictured to the right), Assistant to the Mayor and Director of Planning & Design for the City of Jeffersontown, was re-elected chairman. Meunier also serves on the Transportation Policy Committee.

Don Lopp, Floyd County (Ind.) Planner, was re-elected vice-charman.

TARC cuts, reductions begin Feb. 21

Due to a budget shortfall caused by the current economic downturn, TARC is cutting back service on many routes effective Feb. 21, 2010. Five routes will be eliminated and service will be reduced on 17 routes.

The following routes, all of which have alternative service, will be eliminated:
#46X – 26th/42nd G.E. Express
#69X – New Albany Express
#70X – Clarksville Express
#96 – West Louisville Circulator
#22 – 22nd St. (Saturday)

Little-used route segments on the following routes will also be discontinued:
#1 Fourth Street Trolley
#15 Market Street
#31 Middletown
#43 Poplar Level
#49X Westport Express
#61X Plainview Express
64X Southern Oldham County Express.

Finally, there will be service reductions on the following routes:
#1 Fourth Street Trolley
#2 Second Street
#4 Fourth Street
#6 Sixth Street
#12 Twelfth Street
#15 Market Street
#19 Muhammad Ali
#25 Oak Street
#37X Iroquois Park Express
#45x Okolona Express
#49x Westport Express
#53X Breckenridge Express
#58 Bashford Manor
#61x Plainview Express
#63 Crums Lane
#64X Southern Oldham County Express
#67X Oldham I-71 Express
#71 Jeffersonville Express
#72 Clarksville-New Albany
#73 Charlestown Road Express
#78 Downtown Bluegrass Express.

New schedules will be available on the bus the week before the schedule change and will be available at www.ridetarc.org under “TARC News” up to two weeks before the schedule change. For specific schedule information, call 585-1234.