Indy Connect and several other partnering organizations are kicking off detailed studies of transit service (bus and/or rail) along a 23-mile long corridor that follows the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority railroad corridor from Union Station in Indianapolis to Hamilton County. These studies are needed to obtain federal approval and funding for transit service in the Northeast Corridor. This area has been identified for detailed studies (called the Northeast Corridor Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement) because of a number of different factors – highly concentrated population and employment centers, opportunities for development and redevelopment, and a lack of direct interstate access.

These studies are an important step toward achieving regional transit connectivity, while continuing to elevate economic development and private-sector investment opportunities. The studies must comply with regulatory requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program, followed by engineering and construction. It means educating the public about costs, impacts, and potential benefits and determining how transit service could best meet residents’ needs.

The studies are being conducted by the Federal Transit Administration, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Indy Connect, consisting of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA), the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and IndyGo.