$188 million Purple Line moving toward 2024 completion

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14 thoughts on “$188 million Purple Line moving toward 2024 completion

  1. As a frequent user of the Red Line, I can attest to its convenience in traveling between Broad Ripple and Downtown. The commute is as fast – and sometimes faster – than driving. I do have two complaints, however. First, too often the MyKey kiosks at the station are down, in which case the on-board scanner would normally be the fallback. But those too are undependable as often as not. Second, BRT buses should be given the right-of-way on green lights before vehicles in the left-turn lanes. As it is now, the driver’s view in the left-turn lanes is obstructed by the bus waiting its turn. Letting the bus proceed through the green light at the same time as the far right lane would make left-turns safer for autos and quicker for trips for buses (putting the “Rapid” back in the the BRT.

    1. Regarding your first point: Those on-bus scanners really need to be replaced or at least re-thought out. Even when they work, they require such a level of precision that the driver will often just wave me through.

      I wonder if the end goal — or at least AN end goal — is to move to NFC “swiping” with your phone or watch, similar to paying at Needler’s or Whole Foods.

  2. Why does IndyGo allow the red line to be absolutely free for riders? When riding a few months ago, I was purchasing tickets to ride. I was stopped by an individual that told me it was free and no one checks for tickets. I purchased a ticket and got on the bus. I also noticed that this was true. No one checks for tickets and there is no accountability. Most know this and ride absolutely free. Where is the accountability of tickets? Where is the accountability of our tax dollars? I think they need to fix the redline before expanding.

    Also, the line to the airport should have been the first route. Many individuals, including myself, would purchase monthly passes to have a way of riding to the airport. This would be a way to bring in revenue that is needed to help pay for the system.

    1. I agree and have no idea why there isn’t a BRT line from downtown to the airport. Not only for residents but for visitors to all of the conventions. You could charge 10 bucks one way and people would pay it, cheaper than an Uber or cab.

    2. The green bus was only $7 – does it still exist? It was part of IndyGo and hit all the hotels in the circle downtown loop

    3. Airport lines don’t usually get high ridership unless the airport is a major hub (ATL, ORD, SeaTac, etc.). Most people make a trip to the airport every once in a while, but rarely daily. The Red Line made sense to go first because it overlaps neatly with the most population + job dense corridor in Indiana; something that is more likely to attract regular riders and serve a solid base travel demand market. It’s 1.6% of total IndyGo network mileage but carries 20% of the entire system’s ridership, which says a lot about its importance to system functionality. That’s not to say that the Blue Line to the airport isn’t important, but it wouldn’t have made sense to prioritize it over the Red Line.

    4. I generally support the new rapid bus routes, but I agree it is ridiculous that there is apparently no effort made to reduce cheating on fare-skippers.

  3. to say the red line is more important than the purple is a joke. what was the ridership of the 18 prior to the red? and what is the ridership of the 38? I can tell you from personal experience; when the 18 ran to 91st/96th virtually no one rode it till it got to 86th and then just a handful till 38th. There is truth in the statement no on or almost no one pays to ride the red line

  4. If the budget is $188 million for the Purple Line, would a better “hand up” be to give the 188 people who might ride it a million dollars each?

  5. Redline supporter but frustrated that essentially a new line is already being torn up for improvements. See: https://www.indygo.net/indygo-announces-red-line-enhancements/. It seems like a lack of foresight and an additional unnecessary expenditure that could have been included upfront (we are tearing up streets, etc.). Also agree with other commentators about the kioks and tickets – 100%. Last, the real time mapping is inaccurate and frustrating when trying to ride. If Indygo wants to improve ridership fix these issues.

  6. Additional comment. Evening safety is a real concern and Indygo needs to consider transit security at the stations (cameras alone are insufficient). I know riders who refuse to ride it outside of work hours for that reason.

  7. I would love to see the feasibility study for each of these projects and a cost/benefit analysis of the operation of the Red Line from inception to date. I never see riders or crowds of people at the stops.

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