MPO Receives Mass Transit Feedback From Westside Residents(updated Sept 7 with IndyGo's plans for express service and their COA)(posted Sept 1) At best, the Indianapolis mass transit system currently "limps along" to move people in a regional manner among the eight surrounding counties. Indy Go bus service provides some inter county services to Greenwood. An express service will begin in September to serve Fishers and the Indianapolis International Airport. Amy Inman, MPO senior planner, explained Indy Go is also examining the radial bus line system to accommodate more riders with efficiencies by changing to a cross line service. According to Indy Go Public Information Officer Ronnetta Spalding, a comprehensive operational analysis (COA) has been conducted to increase efficiencies and better connectivity. The COA contains short and long term goals including moving toward a cross line service. “The spoke and wheel system will continue to exist in some manner, but it will be supplemented by crosstown routes, increased frequency, better connectivity, express routes and other enhancements.” Implementation of the COA depends upon funding. Spalding contended that it remains as the biggest challenge. Indy Go is trying to play catch up to other communities in terms of a transit system. “With our plan, the suggested improvements would bring our system up to par with other transits of similar size. Currently, our city ranks 13th out of the largest U.S. cities while IndyGo sits at 99th out of the top 100 transits. Even Louisville and Cincinnati are ahead of us. And, it all comes back to how other cities invest in their public transportation systems, and many of them did so years ago,” she said. Inman realizes the inadequacies and the importance of having a regional transit system to reduce the non-attainment of fine particulate matters in the city's air pollution as well as traffic congestion. The MPO stopped at Lafayette Square August 29 as part of its six area visits to present its regional "Smart Growth" plan to develop a regional mass transit system that will initially start in the northeast quadrant to serve downtown from the Bioscience Crossroads to Fishers and Noblesville. The MPO is also looking at how mass transit can reduce 50,000 cars from traveling on South Street to reach and exit downtown. The MPO's plan is greater than the northeast corridor. HNTB Engineer David Wenzel said the plan has broken the region into seven corridors to serve the north, northeast, east, south, southwest, west and northwest. Each corridor would have its own mass transit system that collectively would capture 120,000 riders over time. The plan needed to be broken down into corridor sections to enhance its chances for federal funding. Indianapolis is ranked third in the country for regional commuters going downtown to work. The mass transit of light rail has been talked about for over a decade. The alignment is still unknown. Inman echoed public feedback "When are you going to stop planning and build the darn thing." The MPO is looking at three different types of mass transit. Light Rail, Automated Guideway Transit and Bus Rapid Transit. The mass transit system would be radial type connection that would rely on feeder buses and satellite transfers to move people in other directions. Part of the planning process is to examine land use. MPO discussed the northwest corridor could use the rail line that borders the IMS on its east side and extends into the Lafayette Square area and Boone County. The success of the mass transit system is intertwined with its station locations and its compatibility to land use in existing neighborhoods and regional employment areas. Wenzel called the process transit supportive development. Residential stations would not want to accommodate all day parking. It was described as more of a "kiss and ride" place where the transit commuter is dropped off by car at the station to board. The MPO collected input from an audience of about 25 as to how they would like to see stations located in the Lafayette Square area. However, no time line exists to when something like this would occur on the west side. One resident suggested using Chrysler's former foundry site at 1100 S. Tibbs Avenue to serve downtown to the Indianapolis International Airport. He suggested the site could be redeveloped into a hotel station type area. Inman explained it would take eight to ten years before construction could start on the northeast side if the Indianapolis Regional Transportation Council approves of MPO's plan. Although federal matching funds are the probable financing mechanism to the unknown cost, Inman did not rule out the ability to use property taxes as a means to fund the project. Mary Clark, president of the Lafayette Square Area Coalition, requested the MPO to attend one of the coalition's meetings to hear their land use and proposed mass transit plan. |
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