The Red Line, an electric bus rapid transit (eBRT) line from Broad Ripple to the University of Indianapolis, could be open to the public as early as 2018. The IndyGo planning team is working with CDM Smith to complete an environmental assessment and design engineering for the line. The team plans to apply for a federal Small Starts grant this fall, which would enable IndyGo to begin construction on the Red Line in 2017.

Many residents will recall the major public engagement efforts around Indy Connect, Central Indiana’s regional transit plan. The full Red Line will eventually extend to Westfield’s Grant Park through Clay Terrace and the Art & Design District in Carmel to the north and into Greenwood’s Old Town to the south. The full Red Line, along with the Green, Blue, Purple and Orange lines and significantly expanded local bus routes will be the subject of a public referendum that could be on the ballot in November 2016. This first phase of the Red Line from Broad Ripple to the University of Indianapolis represents a unique opportunity and the corridor’s characteristics make it an important and viable stand-alone project.

Public Meetings

IndyGo will host several public meetings where you can learn about the Red Rapid Transit Project, ask questions, and have your voice heard during the engineering phase. This August IndyGo representatives will be in the following locations: 

• August 19 /// Public Library College Avenue Branch: 2  to 4 pm
  • 4180 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205
  • IndyGo Route 17

• August 26 /// Indianapolis Art Center: 6 to 7:30pm
  • 820 E 67th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
  • IndyGo Route 18

LEARN MORE • Red Line Exhibit at the State Fair
Visit the Red Rapid Transit Exhibit at the Indiana State Fair this August! You’ll find us located in the  Purdue Agriculture and Horticulture building. IndyGo staff will be onsite to answer questions Tuesday, Friday, andSaturday afternoons.

This first phase of the Red Line will connect many of the largest employers in Central Indiana, the four largest universities, some of the hottest cultural districts and many neighborhoods that are either struggling or just beginning a comeback. It is one of the most racially diverse corridors in central Indiana, and will connect with almost all of IndyGo’s existing bus routes. The Red Line corridor’s diversity, combined with its population and employment density, make it central Indiana’s best opportunity to attract public and private investment and the best opportunity to quickly improve residents’ access to employment, healthcare, education and overall quality of life in the shortest amount of time.

The Red Line will be the nation’s first battery electric BRT system. BRT is essentially light rail on rubber tires; it will move large numbers of people quickly and efficiently to destinations with service features that mirror light rail lines, but at a fraction of the cost. Red Line vehicles will arrive every 10 to 15 minutes almost all day, using dedicated transit lanes for much of the route, with raised stations to accommodate level boarding, monitors to tell riders when the next BRT vehicle is coming and ticket machines so that tickets may be purchased at the station rather than on the bus. All of these things will make the Red Line faster and more reliable.

The project team will be hosting events all along the corridor in order to get feedback on project details. Residents and business owners will have opportunities to help shape the Red Line infrastructure plans including station design and placement, changes to traffic flow and sidewalk needs. Current plans for the Red Line call for stations within Meridian~Kessler along 38th Street at Meridian and Park and along College Avenue at 42nd, 46th, 52nd, 54th and Kessler Boulevard.

Resources

IndyStar, 8.12.15 /// Indy’s bus rapid transit plan begins move to express lane 
After more than 10 years of planning and changes, the city’s proposed bus rapid transit is about to take its biggest step forward. IndyGo is preparing a $50 million grant application to the federal government to cover most of the cost to build the first leg of the bus system.

IndyConnect
For more information on the Red Line, or to stay informed about future opportunities to participate in planning the Red Line, sign up for the Indy Connect e-newsletter.