Category «Transit»

Indianapolis Streetcar Plan gets some press

Portland Streetcar (image credit: Curt Ailes)

Anyone see the latest IBJ has hit the stands? I will refrain from analysis of any kind at this point and simply point out a couple links for catching up on the first volley in the Indianapolis Streetcar debate. IBJ Story: http://www.ibj.com/backers-seek-support-for-2mile-streetcar-line-downtown/PARAMS/article/29171Â (requires subscription) WTHR 13 Story: http://www.wthr.com/story/15351324/planners-eye-downtown-indianapolis-streetcar-route Downtown Indianapolis Streetcar Corp: http://indianapolisstreetcar.org/home.html Read up. I …

IndyGo’s 2012 budget is $6 million short

IndyGo bus on Indiana Ave (image credit: Curt Ailes)

Another year, another round of budget shortfalls. The same old story for IndyGo, Indianapolis’ municipal transit provider. For the 2012 fiscal year, the short fall is expected to be $6.4 million short. At the core of the issue is existing funding sources drying up vs rising costs to do business mostly in the form of …

Central Indiana Regional Bikeways Plan up for review

Central Indiana Bicycle Plan - Draft (image credit: bikeway plan)

Urban Indy is a huge champion for cycling improvements within the Indianapolis area. Cycling is a low cost, low emission and healthy way to get around for short trips to the store, to see friends, get to work, school, etc. It is with these thoughts, that I am happy to pen this review of the …

Alternative Methods for Funding Local Transportation: VMT tax

Construction on Virgina Ave in Fountain Square (image credit: Curt Ailes)

A recent front page story in the New York Times highlighted a pilot program in The Netherlands whereby personal automobiles were outfitted with a meter not unlike what you would find in a taxi cab. The meter was linked via GPS and tracked how many miles and what route were travelled and tabulated a charge …

Streetcar tracks on Mass Ave

I was picking up some pizza from Bazbeux’s last night on Mass Ave and I saw all the construction that is taking place. The project going on is resurfacing of the street, sidewalk reconstruction and addition of electrical conduit for additional lighting along the avenue. At the expense of looking like a hipster with my …

Shelby Street sidewalk “fix”

First attempt to fix Shelby Street Sidewalk (image credit: reader submission)

Well, “the fix is in” as the popular saying goes. As previously reported here on Urban Indy, and in what caused a huge stink, a utility pole planted directly in the middle of a new sidewalk seemed like a huge missed opportunity to improve a stretch of Shelby Street that is currently being subjected to …

IURC approves water lease; $425m for infrastructure

On July 13th, 2011, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the lease of the water utility to Citizen’s Energy. While this has been debated vigorously over the past year and a half locally, what it means is that when it goes through, over $425 million will become available to put towards Rebuild Indy; a program …

Where should a DT Transit Center be located?

Charlotte DT Transit Center (image credit: Curt Ailes)

According to the IndyGo Comprehensive Operational Analysis that was covered in depth by Kevin, a downtown transit center should be used to try and organize all of the routes that converge on downtown Indianapolis. Per the report, a robust savings in operational cost could be gained while preserving on street trafficÂ versus the current location’s most …

Broad Ripple Parking Garage Public Artwork

Charlotte I-485 Park & Ride (image credit: Curt Ailes)

The project team for the newly announced Broad Ripple mixed use parking structure is seeking input from the public regarding how the structure should appear and how artwork and aesthetics should be incorporated into the final design. Per their request, “On June 13, Mayor Greg Ballard announced plans for a mixed-use parking development in Broad …

IndyGo’s Proposed Short Term Changes

Short Term Proposed IndyGo route changes (image credit: 2010 IndyGo COA)

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of talking long-term.Â For transit plans, it basically seems to be a code word for “probably never.” Â So it was quite a pleasant surprise that IndyGo can actually implement some system enhancements in the next 3 years without a need for improving their funding situation.Â …