What We're Doing
Throughout 2010, residents of Central Indiana were asked to review and comment on a draft transportation plan that included bus, rail and roadways, connecting people to people and people to places. This draft plan was the result of decades of research by transportation experts and supported by a study by a private sector task force.
As everyone has a stake in the region's transportation future, the draft plan was shared and discussed in Central Indiana communities. More than 150 public meetings, informational displays, and community speaking engagements were held throughout the region, and educational materials were distributed to encourage further feedback.
A regional transportation plan has been developed and reflects input from the public, elected leaders, civic and business leaders, other stakeholders and work by transportation planning experts. The plan is the most comprehensive ever developed for Central Indiana – with more help from the public than ever before. The Indianapolis Regional Transportation Council (IRTC) included the Indy Connect plan as part of its long-term vision and will continue to move the plan forward.
In December 2010, 11 Central Indiana elected officials and business leaders publicly stated support for ensuring the region’s transportation future takes center stage during the 2012 legislative session. On December 13, 2011 a group of local elected officials and civic and business leaders endorsed a phased approach to the regional Indy Connect plan - beginning in Marion and Hamilton Counties. They also asked the Indiana General Assembly to give local communities the flexibility they need to fund the plan and to authorize a referendum to give voters the final say on the plan - that legislation will be up for debate again during the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.
The plan is a living document and will continue to be refined regularly. Recently, The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) gathered additional input on the Central Indiana Regional Bikeways Plan, which provides a blueprint for investing transportation funds on resources and connections that matter most to residents. The plan examines construction costs, funding sources and timing of implementation for bikeways through 2035 to create a functional, convenient and connected system.
Planners also continue to study various aspects of the Green Rapid Transit Line between Noblesville and Downtown Indianapolis, including environmental impact and design alternatives, and have recently secured funding to study additional corridors including the Red Rapid Transit Line from Carmel down to Greenwood and Blue Rapid Transit Line from Plainfield out to Cumberland. Those studies will begin taking place in early 2013.
