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2018 10 26

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v15n22)

Round the Ripple - by Bill Malcolm

posted: Oct. 26, 2018

Indy defers to Fishers on transit planning for regional rail corridor

The mystery of why the DPW (and not the MPO) was joining with Fishers to urge the Surface Transportation Board to promptly approve abandonment of the Nickel Plate / State Fair train tracks has been solved.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization says on their website that once Fishers decided to convert their section to a trail in 2017, the plan to use the corridor (from 10th Street to beyond Noblesville) for a bus rapid transit route is "out of play". So one small suburban city calls the shots ignoring the regional potential of the Nickel Plate/State Fair train tracks.

From the MPO website:

The Green Line is a proposed a rapid transit solution for the northeast corridor of Central Indiana, from Downtown Indianapolis to Noblesville, primarily using the Nickel Plate Railroad corridor.

During the environmental study phase of the Green Line, feasibility issues including route and financial sustainability were identified. With technology and source of funding in question, the Federal Transit Administration encouraged the MPO to put the remainder of the environmental study on hold until more specifics on the future of the Green Line could be determined.

At a joint meeting on July 31, 2017 the City of Fishers, City of Noblesville, and Hamilton County Commissioners voted to convert the Nickel Plate line into a recreational trail from 96th Street in Fishers to Pleasant Street in Noblesville.

With the rail corridor now out of play for transit, and technology and funding questions remaining, the MPO has no timeline for resuming Green Line planning.

An email to me from MPO simply stated that since no Federal funds are involved, they were not involved in the recent DPW/Fishers/Noblesville pleadings to the STB. Anna Gremling, Executive Director stated: (My questions and her answers)

1. Is MPO aware that DPW has joined with Fishers and Noblesville in urging the Surface Transportation Board to promptly authorize abandonment of the 51-mile regional rail corridor aka the Nickel Plate/State Fair train tracks?

Since federal funding is not involved at this time, the MPO is not involved.

2. If yes, why were no public comments sought?

3. If no, can you state why DPW is involved.

This is out of the MPO's purview as there is no federal funding involved.

4. Does MPO feel that a joint rail and trail use might be possible? That the corridor could be preserved for regional bus rapid transit, enhanced Amtrak service, commuter rail, special events rail?

The corridor lacks right-of-way to do both.

Again, the regional rail corridor should be preserved for bus rapid transit, expanded Amtrak service, or commuter rail before allowing Fishers to convert the rail to only a trail. And Indianapolis and MPO should not defer regional transit planning to one suburban city, Fishers. Yes, we all like rail trails but the Nickel Plate/State Fair rail corridor should not be promptly abandoned and DPW should not be partnering with Fishers in this issue.

BR election news

Be sure and vote November 6, 2018.

There are many races in addition to the U.S. Senate race.

NoBro residents in District 5 find incumbent Congresswoman Susan Brooks facing Dee Thornton. In State Representative District 87, incumbent Cary Hamilton faces Paul Finch.

In the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township race in District 2, Alexandra Curlin faces Donald Kite. In the at-large race, William Turner faces Jason Welch. (Good luck finding any information about the school district candidates.)

For those in IPS, there is a ballot measure to increase taxes for additional funds for IPS.

Call 327-VOTE for 327-5100 for more information including where to vote, early voting, absentee ballots, and more.

Open Enrollment for Health Care Insurance Begins

Need health insurance? Have a pre-existing condition? Need a subsidy? The Health Care Exchange Open enrollment starts November 1.

The 2019 Open Enrollment Period runs from Thursday, November 1, 2018, to Saturday, December 15, 2018. If you don't act by December 15, you can't get 2019 coverage.

Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1, 2019.Details at www.healthcare.gov.

I was on this Federal government-run health insurance program (aka the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare) and it was great. Free physical. Free flu shot. They only ask 2 questions on the application - if you smoke and what your age is. There are no lifetime limits to coverage. They can't ask about pre-existing conditions. And best of all you may qualify for a subsidy.

Remember, you are only one fall away from a trip to the emergency room or worse. You need health insurance. If you don't have health insurance, be sure and sign up. And don't be tricked into buying the new limited coverage health insurance options. They cap what they pay at low unreasonable amounts and have other onerous restrictions.

Finally, If you are low income, you may qualify for the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 which is a separate program run by the state which is a modified Medicaid program.

(Note persons over 65 get Medicare (which has open enrollment going on now) while many with jobs get health insurance through their employer. So you don't need the Health Care Exchange. Ditto if you are on COBRA coverage and don't want to switch.) It's complicated but not as bad as a trip to the emergency room without insurance.

Bill Malcolm also writes a travel column in The Midwest Eagle and is a reporter for All Aboard Indiana (as a volunteer for both). He advocates for fair and affordable utility rates for a national association based in Washington, D.C. He welcomes reader feedback and story ideas. Send to Bill@BroadRippleGazette.com

bill@broadripplegazette.com

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