Transit tax wins City-County Council OK, clearing final hurdle

Originally posted to ibj.com on February 27, 2017 by Susan Orr.

The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night voted 17-8 to approve the Marion County transit tax, setting the stage for major improvements to the city’s bus service.

The tax increase, which goes into effect in October, will cost a resident with $100,000 in taxable income about $250 a year.

IndyGo says the additional tax will generate at least $54.4 million annually starting in 2018. Money will be used to implement the Marion County Transit Plan, which calls for adding buses, adding drivers and building three rapid-transit bus lines. Planning for the first phase of one of those rapid-transit lines, the Red Line, is under way. The first phase of the Red Line will run from East 66th Street and College Avenue south to the University of Indianapolis.

It’s not known yet, however, how quickly those improvements will roll out.

For the full article, visit http://www.ibj.com/articles/62727-transit-tax-wins-city-county-council-ok-clearing-final-hurdle.