Ky.'s TARC adds 6 more Proterra all-electric buses
The new buses, which feature a bike rack for up to three bikes, stop at or near Museum Row downtown, the University of Louisville, Speed Museum, Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum, Old Louisville, restaurants, hotels and much more.
Louisville, Ky.’s Transit Authority of River City (TARC) began adding six new all-electric, zero-emission Proterra buses along its Fourth Street corridor, stopping at some of the city’s most popular destinations. With the new buses, TARC will have a total of 15 all-electric buses on the road, making it one of the largest electric bus operators in the country.
“We know passengers enjoy a quiet, clean ride and it doesn’t get better than this,” said TARC Executive Director J. Barry Barker. “We encourage everyone — visitors and residents alike — to take a ride on one of these zero-emissions, modern buses and have fun visiting top city attractions.”
The new buses, which feature a bike rack for up to three bikes, stop at or near Museum Row downtown, the University of Louisville, Speed Museum, Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum, Old Louisville, restaurants, hotels and much more.
The buses provide cleaner air, fuel conservation and maintenance cost savings. They replace buses that are 16 years old and have traveled more than 600,000 miles. The harmful emissions from the old buses — more than 30,000 pounds each year into the air — will be eliminated with the electric buses. About 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year will also be spared.
A major goal of the pilot, which begins in April, is to test the speed, functionality, and durability of new handheld devices to scan Ventra and paper tickets.
Traditionally, bus lane enforcement has relied on manual processes carried out by transit police or parking enforcement officers. While it may be effective in certain municipalities, this approach is resource-intensive and very difficult to sustain.
A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.
The landmark event empowers riders across six agencies in the Puget Sound region to tap-and-ride transit using a contactless credit or debit card or a mobile wallet.
Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.
Menard discusses how data-driven signal prioritization is improving efficiency, reliability, and ridership, while offering insight into the innovations driving the next generation of smart mobility. Together, they explore how technology and collaboration are paving the way for a more connected, sustainable future in transit.
The pilot program showcases two companies’ technology at eight bus stops. The companies submitted their ideas through the Transit Tech Lab, which is backed by the Partnership Fund for New York City and provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
