Existing local and state dollars for transit are not enough to pay for current levels of service. In June of 2024 TARC began working directly with the community to create an updated transit network that would best meet Louisville’s priorities and needs within the reality of the money that’s available to the agency. TARC presented options and gathered feedback from over 300 community meetings, events and workshops; the New TARC Network is the result of that process.

Many bus stops will be changing in the New TARC Network due to route alignment changes and bus stop consolidations.  On many streets, the current TARC network has a bus stop on every block , which means the bus has to stop more often, it takes people longer to get where they want to go, and the service is less reliable.  By rebalancing the stops so buses only have to stop once every 2-3 blocks, the buses will be more convenient and reliable.  It will also make it easier for TARC to provide bus stop amenities like shelters, benches, and trash cans since fewer of those items are needed.  TARC staff is currently working to finalize bus stop changes for the New TARC Network and will be releasing this information to the public in late 2025.  Notices will be posted at any bus stops that are subject to removal.  No existing TARC bus stops will be removed prior to August 2, 2026.

Most bus routes in the New TARC Network will have new route numbers.  The new route numbers will make sure riders are aware that their route is changing and may not go to the same places it went before.  The route numbers will also help to make the system easier to understand.  Routes with lower numbers (e.g. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10) are the core routes that connect to Downtown Louisville with frequent service running every 15-30 minutes seven days per week.  These routes are usually more direct and are more convenient to use.  Route with lower numbers (e.g. 20, 57, 81) operate with less frequent or specialized service and may not run on weekends.

Additional information to help customers learn the new routes – including an interactive trip planner and updated route timetables – will be provided by Spring 2026.

The New TARC Network will feature a new, temporary Downtown Transfer Center at the corner of Muhammad Ali Boulevard and 8^th Street with on-street bus bays, shelters, and customer wayfinding information.  The purpose of the Downtown Transfer Center is to provide a central location where all of the different buses serving downtown can come together in a scheduled “pulse” that will allow passengers to transfer between routes in 5-10 minutes.  By providing a comfortable, convenient Downtown Transfer Center with timed transfers, TARC customers will be able to travel across the Louisville region, even with routes that only run every 30-60 minutes.  Work to establish the temporary Downtown Transfer Center will be completed by Summer 2026, and it is expected to be in use until a permanent Downtown Transfer Center is constructed in the future.

TARC plans to implement the New TARC Network in August 2026. No major service changes are planned before then as the TARC team works behind the scenes to prepare for the introduction of the new network. TARC will launch an extensive public education effort next year to help customers learn the new system before it starts. In the coming months, more specific information about schedules, changes to bus stop locations, and trip planning will be available as well.