Indy joins regional group to fund transit route
The City-County Council voted Monday for Indianapolis to join Carmel, Westfield and Greenwood in an economic development group seeking state funding for a rapid-transit route.
Automotive
Articles
Carmel eyes plan for traffic nightmare at Keystone and 96th St.
City officials hope to start construction in 2017 on a nearly $32 million teardrop roundabout that would bridge through traffic over 96th Street.
KAR launches global push by acquiring English company
Carmel-based KAR Auction Services Inc. announced Monday that it has acquired Canvey Island, England-based HBC Vehicle Services, marking its first foray into a market outside of North America.
UPDATE: Council to sue over city’s $32M electric car contract
Vision Fleet, the electric car vendor in the middle of a dispute between the City-County Council and the city of Indianapolis, is seeking a legal review of its contract in which a five-judge panel determines the validity of the pact.
LANGHAM: Will drones disrupt logistics?
With e-commerce growing at an exponential rate, and with economic factors such as truck driver shortages, it makes sense to look at how drones can be used as an asset in logistics and distribution.
Great Indy Innovations
Central Indiana has been the birthplace of groundbreaking innovation felt nationwide–even worldwide.
Sale of Indiana Toll Road lease-holder closes for $5.7B
Australia-based IFM Investors plans to invest $260 million in capital improvements on the Indiana Toll Road over the next five years.
IUPUI professor’s winning car design mimics human rib cage
IUPUI professor Andres Tovar recently won an international automotive design competition by using advanced technology to mimic Mother Nature’s own blueprints.
Survey: States spent heavily to clear winter snow, ice
Indiana spent $40 million on snow-fighting efforts from October through March while using 273,000 tons of salt and ringing up 308,000 personnel hours. Much of that battle took place in the northern part of the state.
Downtown projects set to soak up thousands of parking spaces
Parking on the east side of downtown is becoming harder to find—enough to prompt some rates to rise—thanks to a trio of real estate developments replacing surface parking lots.
Regulators slash proposed rate-hike request for BlueIndy plan
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on Wednesday shot down the bulk of a plan by Indianapolis Power & Light to charge ratepayers $16 million for costs involving a proposed all-electric car-sharing service called BlueIndy.
Two counties continue effort to lease Indiana Toll Road
Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen told a Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission committee that his county along with LaPorte County are preparing to finalize their offer.
Indiana low-powered moped law to take effect Jan. 1
Beginning Thursday, owners of mopeds or scooters with engines smaller than 50 cubic centimeters must have a registration, a license plate and an Indiana identification card.
IndyGo’s real-time features for riders delayed
The city bus company is in the midst of a technology upgrade that’s supposed to include next-bus arrival information via digital signs at downtown stops and text messaging.
Federal highway officials OK plans for Illiana Expressway
The Federal Highway Administration has approved plans for a 47-mile expressway between Illinois and Indiana.
Thanksgiving getaway: 46.3 million to hit the road
During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 46.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home, the highest number since 2007, according to car group AAA.
Ballard unveils $32M plan to rent electric-vehicle fleet
Mayor Greg Ballard announced Tuesday morning a plan to replace gas-powered cars in the city’s fleet with 425 all-electric and hybrid vehicles by 2016. Indianapolis is the vendor’s first customer.
City-County Council to vote on $70M bond issue for roads
The plan scales back Mayor Greg Ballard’s original proposal for borrowing $150 million to help handle street repair.
Officials raise stink about smelly toll road toilets
The state has notified the company leasing the toll road that the travel plazas need improvement. And in a letter back to the state last month, ITR Concession Co. said it has hired additional cleaning staff to handle the restrooms.
Food distributor to open natural-gas fueling station
Indianapolis-based Delco Foods plans to break ground Wednesday on a new compressed natural gas fueling station at 8775 Zionsville Road to serve its own delivery fleet as well as the public.