Johnson County and Southern Indy News

Chamber Hails Federal Construction Grant for Red Line

The wait is over and the Federal Transit Administration has approved a $75 million Small Starts grant for construction of Phase I of the Red Line, Indianapolis’ first bus rapid-transit project. A future phase of the project will take the Red Line from the University of Indianapolis to County Line Road on Madison Avenue. The Greater Greenwood Chamber has actively backed not only the Red Line but also its eventual expansion from County Line Road into Greenwood’s Pleasant Twp.

“The Chamber has consistently supported improving convenient, frequent and reliable public transit in Central Indiana, including creating a dedicated and sustainable public funding source,” said Chamber President and CEO Christian Maslowski. “We are excited for finality on the release of this federal grant money and look forward to watching the dollars being deployed this year. This is a huge relief and the final hurdle to seeing construction start on the Red Line.” IndyGo awarded a pair of contracts totaling $46 million for construction of the first phase of the project last December.

The grant will cover most of the total $96.3 million cost of the project. In addition, a referendum providing new funding for public transportation through a levy of 25 cents for every $100 of taxable income was adopted by Marion County residents in November 2016 and later approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council.

“In the future, Pleasant Twp. residents hopefully will get the opportunity to vote on a similar referendum extending the Red Line to their community,” Maslowski said. “If adopted, it would expand public transportation within Pleasant Twp. and connect Greenwood and the south side with the rest of the region, providing frequent, accessible service and better connections to get residents where they need to go.” Nearly 60 percent of Chamber members have expressed support for the income tax to fund efficient mass transit including the Red Line.

The 13.1-mile route will run from College Avenue and East 66th Street in Broad Ripple through downtown Indianapolis to the University of Indianapolis. Work should begin soon, according to IndyGo, with an opening in mid-2019 expected.

Construction will include roadways and sidewalks as well as stations at the route’s 28 stops. The route will provide service every 10 minutes for 20 hours a day, seven days a week. It will come within a quarter mile of more than 50,000 residents and nearly 150,000 jobs – one fourth of all jobs in Marion County, according to IndyGo.

The Red Line will be followed by construction of the Purple Line running from 38th and Meridian streets to Lawrence and then the Blue Line connecting Cumberland with the Indianapolis International Airport.

In concluding, Maslowski noted that the Chamber has worked diligently to expand regional transit for nearly a decade because it simply is smart economic development strategy, one which will better connect residents to jobs, education, health care and entertainment, and improve the quality of life for those who cannot drive. “And it will better attract and retain a talented workforce, particularly today’s largest generation of workers who choose not to drive,” he added.