Transit bill advances at Statehouse after losing amendments

The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday morning to move a mass-transit bill to the full House, where it’s sure to see further debate.

Before the vote, committee Chairman Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, withdrew four amendments from Senate Bill 176 that had been proposed Monday by the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel. The committee voted 17-1 in favor of the bill. The sole ‘no’ vote was cast by Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero.

Brown said Monday that Republican committee members would discuss the proposed amendments in caucus. There was no public discussion before the vote Tuesday.

Torr’s proposed amendments would have restored the ability to use light rail in a mass-transit system, as well as a requirement for 10 percent of revenue to come from alternative sources, not taxes or fares. Other proposed amendments removed Hendricks County as one of the counties eligible to join a regional transit authority and dealt with language on the extent of transit service in a county.

Amendments can also be filed as the bill moves through the full House.