Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe cost of downtown Indianapolis' new bus transit center has grown by more than $5 million due to archaeological finds that have delayed the project's schedule by seven months.
The IndyGo transit center, which is expected to become a hub for most of Indianapolis' bus lines, was supposed to be finished in November. IndyGo is expected to change 27 of its 31 routes because of the center, but can't do so until it is completed.
Construction was slowed on the 14,000-square-foot center in May when excavators found the remnants of previous buildings at the site. Work didn't resume at a normal pace until October, pushing the expected completion until mid-June.
IndyGo spokesman Bryan Luellen told The Indianapolis Star that the project's estimated cost has risen from $20 million to $26.5 million, largely because of the archaeological findings. A federal grant is covering $13.5 million of the project's price tag, but IndyGo is on the hook for the unexpected extra costs.
Archaeologists found glass and flatware at the construction site that will be cataloged for a project report.
The center is being built on a half-block former surface parking lot just north of the Marion County Jail, along East Washington Street across from the City-County Building.
A design team of Drew White and partner Eric Anderson of locally based Axis Architecture + Interiors, landscape architect Kevin Osburn at Rundell Ernstberger Associates and project manager Steve Robinson of San Francisco-based URS worked with IndyGo and city officials to design the project.
IBJ took an in-depth look at the project's design earlier this year.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.