TARC Makes Decision on Route Changes

TARC heard from local residents about various route changes and a decision has been made.

TARC announced yesterday that they will restructure six Louisville routes for improved service in some areas and cost savings in others, following a public comment period on proposed changes. The changes will take effect June 9. Click the link to view the proposals.

During the public comment period, TARC received more than 100 comments about the proposals, which were announced in early March. Based on the comments, one proposed change will not move forward, a rerouting that would have discontinued service on Route #25-Oak Street to the Nia Center at 29th and Broadway.

Route #25 will merge with Route #55-Westport Road, as proposed, to create a cross-town link between west and east Louisville but with the Nia Center as part of the route. Some passengers said they wanted service to the Nia Center, where they can easily transfer to other routes, buy TARC tickets and passes and shop at a nearby grocery.

In addition, Route #55-Westport Road will no longer travel downtown but passengers will have the ability to transfer to routes serving downtown.

Other changes include more frequent and direct service between downtown and the Louisville International Airport. TARC will also eliminate a loop to the downtown Medical Center on the Fourth Street route due to low ridership.

The changes, which will save about $1.8 million a year, were designed so TARC ptions would remain available to passengers impacted.

But be advised TARC will provide more frequent and direct service between the airport and downtown on Route #2-Second Street, which will no longer travel south of the airport to UPS Worldport. The UPS facility will be added to Route #18, which travels Dixie and Preston Highways.

In addition, the Second Street route will no longer travel on Preston Street, instead making a more direct link to downtown primarily on Third and Second streets. Route #27-Hill Street will be realigned to cover the area of Preston now served by the Second Street route. The Hill Street route will no longer travel on Burnett and Shelby streets and Delor and Texas avenues.

On the Fourth Street route north of Central Avenue, bus arrival times of every 10 minutes would be maintained from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. and TARC would reduce service to every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

TARC will also reduce frequency from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes from 7-9 p.m. on Dixie and Preston Highways (Route #18). Buses will still arrive every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. except south of Park Place Mall on Dixie Highway where buses will arrive at stops every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Detailed descriptions and maps of the changes will be provided at www.ridetarc.org in upcoming days.