The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently awarded the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) a $149.9 million Capital Investment Grants grant.
Funding will support the construction of the estimated $396 million Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The project will construct a 24-mile BRT line that will provide public transportation an east-west corridor that includes downtown Indianapolis, the State Capitol, the airport, and the Indianapolis Zoo. Work will include 12 miles of dedicated bus-only lanes in the urban core, 60-foot hybrid buses, and 30 stations.
“This investment in the Blue Line represents a real commitment to the city’s transportation infrastructure and will reduce transit travel times in the corridor by up to 30 percent,” FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said. “With upgraded traffic signals, miles of resurfaced lanes, new and replaced sidewalks, curb ramps, bike stations, and crosswalks, FTA is building safer, more sustainable, and accessible pathways for everyone, including improved transit service for a large number of low-income and zero-car households.”
The service will operate 20 hours per weekday with frequent service and will offer a variety of transit choices, including access for cyclists, pedestrians, park-and-ride commuters, and transfers to and from other routes.