Take Indy Commuter Express on Colts Gameday

According to a press release last week, Miller Trailways in partnership with CIRTA will be offering Colts gameday services from the normal weekday park & ride lots in Carmel & Fishers. This will provide a new way for people in the north suburbs to get to the Colts game without having to fight traffic & pay for parking. This is a step in the right direction towards providing alternative options for people to get downtown in what are normally, very congested conditions for Colts games. I encourage anyone who lives in the burbs who reads this blog to try it out for your next Colts game. It also appears that there is a measure of tailgating allowed on the bus as well. 🙂

Here is the press release:

“Indy Express Bus kicks off Colts game day shuttles

Grab your cooler, and climb aboard Indy Express Bus in Carmel and Fishers

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 12, 2011) — Peyton Manning might be sidelined for the Sept. 18  Indianapolis Colts home opener, but Indy Express Bus will be on the active list, ready to take fans from the northside to downtown Indianapolis every home game day this season.

On Sept. 18, Indy Express Bus will pick up fans at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. game against the Cleveland Browns. Shuttles will leave from Meijer in Carmel (intersection of Pennsylvania and Carmel Drive) and in Fishers at Prairie View at Crosspoint (northeast corner of 106th Street and Lantern Road) – the same locations where Indy Express Bus offers downtown commuter shuttles weekdays.

“We are excited to offer this new shuttle service for the 2011-2012 Colts season,” said Ehren Bingaman, executive director of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), which operates Indy Express Bus along with Miller Trailways. “Not only does the Indy Express Bus help fans save money on parking and gas, but it leaves the driving to someone else.  Plus it helps alleviate traffic congestion downtown.”

Round trip tickets for Colts games are $10 in advance and $20 at the pick-up locations. Pre-order tickets online at www.IndyExpressBus.com.

The Indy Express Bus Game Day Shuttle will drop off fans on Missouri Street on the west side of Lucas Oil Stadium between Abbott and West Northwood streets.  It will depart from the same location 30 minutes after the game. Fans can bring snacks and drinks, as they’re not left on the bus during the game.”

This past weekend, WISHTV-8 reported on the new service, and CIRTA said that 45 people used the gameday express to get to the Colts loss to the Broans. Good start!