New cleaner emission TARC buses unveiled in Louisville

July 1, 2021

Al Greenfield,

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) has revealed the first 15 of 47 new, cleaner emission buses that will serve Louisville residents.

Gov. Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey, Sen. Gerald Neal, Rep. Ken Upchurch, Rep. Josie Raymond and Metro Councilman Markus Winkler all were a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony at Louisville’s Union Station.

$8.5 million in transportation funding was announced in October 2020 to replace around 170 buses and support efforts to increase reliable and sustainable transportation in the state. The funds mainly went to purchasing cleaner emission transit buses for areas having difficulty meeting federal air quality standards.

Source: Transit Authority of River City (TARC)/Facebook

The funds came from the $20.3 million Kentucky received under the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. That award was part of the $100 million gained following the lawsuit filed against Volkswagen by Andy Beshear when he was the state’s attorney general. The 2020 General Assembly developed a spending plan for the funds and approved disbursement starting July 1, 2020. For more information about the funding announcement, see the full October release.

“While I was attorney general, we held Volkswagen accountable for deceiving Kentucky consumers, and today we’re seeing funds from that settlement improving public transit and air quality in Louisville,” said Gov. Beshear. “I look forward to the time when we have all 47 new cleaner emission buses in Louisville and 170 across the state, because with investments like these, we are making public transportation healthier and more accessible for our people.”

“Transportation plays a role in our environment and its effects on public health,” added Secretary Gray. “That’s one reason these new, clean-diesel buses are such a great public benefit. Anything we can do to reduce emissions makes for cleaner air and a better Kentucky.”