By Rick HowlettPublic hearings have begun on a proposed surcharge on some Transit Authority of River City bus routes to avoid eliminating them. Officials had previously suggested doing away with all but three of TARC's 16 express routes to meet a budget shortfall, but after public input, decided to float the idea of a one dollar surcharge on those routes.Linda Paulley of Fairdale takes an express bus downtown several days a week. She says as long as they're raising fares, why not ask all riders to put some skin in the game?"If it's just 50 cents...something...but each person that rides should have to pay for that service," she said.Last month, TARC proposed a combination of route and service cuts to help close what was a $5.5 million revenue shortfall. Executive Director Barry Barker says they still need to find about $3 million somewhere."I'm looking under every rock I can find to see where we can get it," he said.The TARC board will consider the surcharge proposal later this month.The public hearings will be held:Monday, April 126-8 p.m. Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie HighwayTuesday, April 13 6-8 p.m. Jeffersonville (Ind.) Library, 211 East Court Ave.Wednesday, April 146-8 p.m.East End Government Center, 200 Juneau DrThursday, April 156-8 p.m.Oldham County Community Convention Center, 1551 N Hwy 393, Buckner
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.