Dear Mayor Craig Greenberg and Louisville Metro Council,

TARC’s mission is to “explore and implement transportation opportunities that enhance the social, economic, and environmental well-being of its service area.” Without adequate and consistent funding, that mission is under attack.

Every day, 330 drivers help an average of 37,468 people arrive at their destination using one or more of 31 fixed bus routes, covering 1,076 miles, that serves the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana. Approximately 4.8 million individuals ride TARC every year, nearly half of whom have reported an income of below $20,000. For many, TARC is their sole means of transportation and will be for the foreseeable future.

TARC is more than just an “option” for its riders, it delivers a workforce to employers who serve all of us, bridges gaps between communities, and opens doors to opportunity and education. Eighty percent of TARC riders are going to work or to school. For the riders of 312,000 annual paratransit trips, it guarantees a level of mobility and dignity that enriches their day-to-day lives. Simply put, TARC is not only critical to the lives and livelihoods of Louisville Metro residents but also essential to the economic success of our entire region.

TARC riders have spoken, and they have a lot to say. A survey conducted in spring 2023 by an ATU partner revealed that a majority of TARC riders experience late buses regularly. The same survey asked non-TARC riders what would encourage them to use public transit more often if at all: they need more frequent and direct service, more stops close to their desired destinations and homes, and improved stops that make the service easier to use.

TARC’s aspirational 2040 Long Range Plan makes it clear that not only is TARC poised for change, but that there is still A LOT of work to do. And they can’t do it without additional and sustained support from Mayor Greenberg and Louisville Metro Council. The current funding model for TARC which was originally implemented in 1974 is archaic and insufficient. In the face of record inflation; increased traffic congestion on unsafe roads; and apparent climate change, TARC needs and deserves more.

As Louisvillians and supporters of public transit, we demand that the Louisville Metro Council establish operational funding for TARC in the annual city budget and commit to maintaining that funding in every annual budget moving forward. Many of us rely on TARC to take us where we need to go on a daily basis. It is an essential service that cannot be taken for granted.

Using the objectives laid out in TARC’s 2040 Long Range Plan as a road map, this sustained increase would:
• grow ATU worker pay while also providing additional training and maintenance support—what’s good for drivers is good for riders!
• reduce bus no-shows and increase bus frequency to every 15 minutes, effectively reversing recent service cuts that have punished working-class riders who rely on public transit the most.
• expand operational service to reach new riders, including through rapid transit options and increased hours of operation.
• implement best-in-class technology solutions that keep up with industry standards and ensure a consistent commuting experience for riders—tap & pay payment is just the beginning.
• build more covered stops with larger, updated signage that make TARC easier to use and rely upon, especially for new riders.
• prioritize accessibility throughout TARC’s service footprint, remedying the roughly 25% of bus stops that are not ADA-compliant.

One only needs to look at comparable public transit systems, to recognize that funding for Louisville Metro’s public transit system lags far behind. For example, the budget of Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), which has several key indicators similar to TARC’s, is nearly $100 million more than TARC’s. In 2020, COTA was named Outstanding Midsize Public Transit System by American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Mayor Greenberg promised to “improve public transportation to create high density corridors of opportunity, with a focus on routes serving working families and their places of employment.” It’s time for that promise to come to fruition. Louisville Metro deserves award-winning public transit. It’s time to Get On The Bus and give Louisville a lift.

Signed,
Concerned citizens of Louisville and beyond