Letter: Light rail ban is shortsighted

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In October 2020, Gov. Eric Holcomb was among those who attended a groundbreaking for extending South Shore commuter rail service from Hammond to Dyer. This will provide faster trips to downtown Chicago. Apparently, electric rail is more effective than buses for constituents in northwest Indiana.

A state statute was passed prohibiting light rail, apparently to thwart a proposed project along a rail corridor in northeast Indianapolis. Indiana is the only state to ban light rail, a shortsighted mandate directly conflicting with Federal Transit Administration guidelines for technology selection. Indianapolis has therefore advanced Bus Rapid Transit.

Northwest Indiana and Indianapolis followed Federal Transit Administration and National Environmental Policy Act guidelines for environmental analysis and financial justification. Both projects were approved for federal funding assistance.

The South Shore rail extension, Indiana’s most costly transit project, comprises 7.8 miles and four stations for $890.9 million. Trains will operate every 35 minutes with annual cost of $12 million and daily ridership of 7,200, increasing to 10,000 in 2037.

The IndyGo Red Line BRT comprises 13.1 miles and 28 stations for $96.3 million. Buses operate every 10 to 20 minutes with annual cost of $7 million and daily ridership of 7,800, increasing to 11,000 with implementation of the system restructuring plan.

Implementing IndyGo Purple Line and Blue Line BRT would provide 51.9 miles and 87 stations for $471.3 million, annual operating cost of $26.3 million, and daily ridership of 26,900.

Compared to the South Shore project, based on FTA data, IndyGo BRT system is more frequent; cost share is 51% lower; cost per mile, 91% lower; and cost per rider 41% lower.

Does this mean one project is good and one is bad? The definitive answer is no. Each serves a different objective. The South Shore project utilizes new and existing railway infrastructure. IndyGo BRT utilizes existing roadways and improved signals. A single light rail line in Indianapolis would not be as effective. However, prohibition of light rail is poor policy, implemented without rational or logical data-based documentation. Perhaps a South Shore type train could serve a future regional network linking Indianapolis, Indianapolis airport, Muncie, Lafayette, and Bloomington.

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Derek Crider

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