IndyGo expects that the Trump federal grant review will not affect blue line investment

Indianapolis, Indiana – IndyGo’s Blue Line, which will connect Cumberland in the east end of Marion County with Indianapolis International Airport on the west, is about to launch after ten years and a $370 million budget.

In order to inform passengers, drivers, and neighbors about what to expect once construction begins later this month and lasts for the next three years, the transit agency is hosting a number of open houses over the course of the next week.

Carrie Black, chief public affairs officer for IndyGo, stated, “We’ll be starting downtown between Victory Field and the convention center/transit center area on Washington Street. We’ll also be starting at that same time in Irvington and just east of there in Cumberland.” “We’re always trying to maintain some sort of access through that area, and the majority of our closures are within the 30-180 day range on the longer end.”

Lane limitations through Irvington, with eastbound traffic being rerouted south on Emerson Avenue to Southeastern Avenue and then north on Arlington Avenue back to East Washington Street, are among the most important closures planned for late this year.

“They would keep one lane of traffic open for westbound traffic, and then the eastbound lane would be closed for a while, forcing people to take detours,” Black explained.

To enable the building of the Bus Rapid Transit line, about half of the Blue Line money will go toward road surface and infrastructure upgrades.

“We are paving or surfacing roughly 50 lane miles of new streets,” Black stated. Nearly ten kilometers of newly constructed or renovated sidewalks are at issue. More than 350 new ADA curb ramps are at issue. We are discussing new streetlights. Additionally, there are ongoing subterranean sewer improvements that cause significant disturbances.

According to Black, IndyGo did not have any estimates for the Blue Line’s anticipated ridership or revenue after it is finished.

Courtney Hawk, who frequently takes the bus or her bike to Irvington, identifies as a Blue Line supporter.

“As someone who takes the bus frequently, it’s worth it,” she remarked. In order to ensure that people are not rushing through the area and that they remember that this is the official detour and that this is what you should be using, they stated that they were willing to collaborate with the residents and pedestrians that use the Washington Street that will be closed.

In order to attract investment along IndyGo’s Red, Purple, and Blue Lines, Indianapolis has implemented a Transit Oriented Development policy.

“In particular, where I live, we’ve seen more housing go up, more multiple housing, not just single families,” Hawk added, citing the Red Line and Purple Line. “We have given careful consideration to the bus transit system within a certain radius.”

The transport authority is cautiously optimistic that the $172 million in federal transit and renewable energy funding that IndyGo has benefited from for the construction of the Blue Line will endure President Trump’s promises to examine government grants and spending plans.

We have not observed any adverse effects. Up until a week ago, everything we submitted had been paid back, after the notification that grant expenditure would be frozen, Black stated. We have always understood that once our name is on something, it cannot be removed. That was during the previous government.

The list of upcoming IndyGo Blue Line open houses is as follows:

At each site, in-person meetings will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and from 12 to 2 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., the virtual meeting will begin. The timetable is shown below.

• Tuesday, Feb. 11
IndyGo West Campus Boardroom | 1501 W. Washington St.

• Wednesday, Feb. 12
Cumberland Town Hall | 11501 E. Washington St.

• Thursday, Feb. 13
Irvington Development Organization | 5855 E. Washington St.

• Monday, Feb. 17
Virtual Public Meeting