After getting an earful from riders about potential service cuts, the Transit Authority of River City’s director Barry Barker told The Courier-Journal that he will modify some of those recommendations to TARC’s board. The city’s public transit system has received about 2,000 comments from riders during a series of public hearings this weeks.

Among the many riders troubled by the proposed cuts are residents in the Portland neighborhood, who have drafted a letter to Barker with a proposal that combines routes to preserve bus service in the area.

Jennifer Strane-Harris, president of the Portland Now Neighborhood Association, says residents are deeply concerned over the planned elimination of two lines in particular, the #12 – Twelfth Street and the #22 – Twenty Second Street bus routes. And residents plan to discuss their suggestions and other ideas tonight at The Neighborhood House (201 N. 25th Street) at 6 p.m.

Barker has repeatedly said TARC is considering alternatives to eliminating certain bus lines such as consolidating routes. TARC’s board is scheduled to decide on the service reductions March 22.