At the March 19, 2013, meeting of Indy Connect, held at the Hebrew Congregational building, attendees heard about proposed transit enhancements including a doubling of local bus service and the creation of five express routes (SEE MAP). Indy Connect is a partnership of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, and IndyGo.

The new express bus routes would have fewer stops, have more frequent service, and use special buses which would have WiFi. Other enhancements include serving both Marion and Hamilton Counties as well as other counties in the region.

One such route, dubbed the Red Line, would run from Greenwood to Carmel and serve Broad Ripple via College Avenue coming from downtown. It would continue north on College or possibly go north on Keystone after a stop at Glendale Mall. (SEE MAP) A final route for the Red Line is under study but will be decided by the end of the year according to Indy Connect.

The plan requires enactment of enabling legislation by the state legislature. HB 1011 would allow voters in the region to authorize regional transit. The bill passed the Indiana House and is now pending before the Indiana Senate. The legislation itself would not raise taxes nor approve transit -- it would only allow regional voters to make such a decision.

At a hearing held recently in the Senate Local Government Committee, over 140 organizations appeared in support of the bill. Appearing against were the Hamilton County Patriots who sponsored a conservative anti-transit witness who urged transit be contracted out to private companies and noted that transit project cost estimates always exceed projections. Ron Gifford of Indy Connect countered that Indianapolis has gone forward with other projects (stadium, airport, etc.) and has managed to stay within budget.

Even if the bill fails, two routes serve Broad Ripple today: The "#17 College" which runs from downtown, along Mass Avenue, up College to Broad Ripple and then onto Glendale Town Center (and the #17A which runs up College then turns at Kessler to go to Glendale Mall). The "#18 Nora" which runs from downtown up Meridian to Broad Ripple and then continues to 91st and Meridian (with the #18A going to Keystone at the Crossing). Note this route does not run on Sunday.

Also, IndyGo is building a new transit station just south of the City County Building. They are also adding a new east-west line on 86th Street. These service enhancements are not dependent on Indy Connect going forward.

For more information on Indy Connect, visit their website, IndyConnect.org