TARC Route 61X is one of four express bus routes in Louisville that will end in August.(Jacob Munoz / LPM)The Transit Authority of River City launched major changes to Louisville’s bus system Sunday, including route adjustments, fewer stops and an entirely new numbering system.The changes are par t of an effort by TARC officials to increase efficiency and cut costs in the agency, which has faced ongoing financial struggles. The redesign will result in a 12% reduction in bus service overall, though officials have said the new network will be more streamlined and efficient.“This is a big change, and we know that,” Ozzy Gibson, executive director of TARC, said in a recent press release. “We want every rider to feel confident about what’s coming on August 2: where their bus is, when it’s coming, if their pickup or dropoff stop has changed, and how to get where they need to go.”TARC changes include:Routes in Middletown, Jeffersonville, Fern Valley and six other locations will be discontinued. Transit covering Bardstown Road, Preston Highway, Fourth Street, Dixie Highway and Market Street will now run every 15 minutes on weekdays. A new downtown transit center at Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Eighth Street will connect riders with eight other destinations including Jefferson Mall, the VA Hospital and Shawnee Park. City buses will provide service to all magnet high schools within Jefferson County Public Schools.These changes are the result of a two-year redesign that included public meetings and surveys about route options.To help riders as they learn the new system, TARC is offering free rides Aug. 2-16, and the agency will have ambassadors on buses and at stops to answer questions.Riders can visit TARC’s website to explore all the updated routes and other changes. ...read more read less