LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's public transportation system announced the company will be discontinuing several routes in eastern Jefferson County, and several others will be changed throughout the Metro.
Earlier this month, the Transit Authority River City (TARC) said the changes won't go into effect until Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.
"TARC is reviewing and analyzing proposed service changes to ensure this proposal does not create any disproportionate burden or disparate impact on low-income and minority populations in the TARC service area," they said.
These four routes will be discontinued:
- Route17X Bardstown Road Express
- Route 31X Middletown Express
- Route 40X Jeffersontown Express
- Route 61X Plainview Express
These six routes will be updated:
Several Metro Council members representing east Louisville wrote a letter to TARC saying discontinuing routes "will harm the quality of life for many of the people who live out in our districts" and are served by TARC.
They said their districts have seen significant growth due to the growing number of apartments and condos that represent "a greater diversity of income levels and more dependence on government services such as parks, schools and transit."
"We ask that you reconsider these changes and remind yourselves that TARC is supposed to serve the entire community," they said.
"When we see cuts to TARC, it is very concerning to us," Councilman Robin Engel told WHAS11 News. He joined the five other council members in the letter to TARC's Director earlier this month.
In the letter, Metro Council members said they were surprised to learn of the change through the news and not directly from TARC.
Engel said the cut routes would negatively impact his growing district.
"We are talking about thousands and thousands of new folks who need to get to their places of employment, they need to get to grocery stores," he said.
Their letter also called for an additional public hearing in East Louisville, which has now been added to TARC's schedule which is:
- March 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Southwest Public Library
- March 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Union Station
- April 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Middletown Branch Library
Any public comments will be accepted until April 25.
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