How broken is the current IndyGo bus system? Well, that depends on one’s perspective. Some people could care less about Indianapolis’ public transportation system while others who rely heavily on the bus have serious concerns.
Among those who are interested, their complaints vary as to why they dislike the current system, however all agree that bus infrequency leading to long wait times is a major problem.
“The buses aren’t bad. But it’s time consuming. You got to catch the bus early and you can’t make a mistake. Then you have a 30-minute ride here and there and you’ve wasted two hours just to get to your destination,” said “Mike” who has ridden IndyGo for years. “If I have to ride the bus, I will, but I’d rather find a ride.”
The unfortunate thing about this issue is that IndyGo, Indianapolis’ public transportation corporation, is well aware of this problem, but there is only so much they can do to improve bus frequency.
“We get complaints all the time, but we welcome the feedback,” said Samantha Cross, vice president of business development at IndyGo.
The problem
IndyGo has 31 fixed routes that move throughout Marion County. Routes are a “hub and spoke” design where most of the routes come into the downtown area. There are several that go across town, and those have a moderate ridership.
A few routes cross county lines and IndyGo also has arrangements with municipalities within Marion County such as Speedway and Beech Grove. The bus system is pleased with the routes, but admits additional buses along those routes are needed for more convenience.
West Hardy drove a bus for 15 years and is currently an instructor at IndyGo. He said drivers bear the brunt of riders’ frustrations at times.
“Sometimes it’s not their fault buses are delayed, are late or break down. Drivers are trying to do the job that’s out there for them to do and the best way they can do it,” said Hardy.
IndyGo has other challenges as well, such as the rise in fuel cost, and these high priority matters primarily boil down to capital – there’s not enough money to address major issues. Part of their budget comes from the Federal Transit Administration, federal grants and state funds that are divided throughout various bus systems across Indiana. Locally, IndyGo gets a portion of property taxes and then there are riders’ bus fares.
This system is heavily subsidized, however public transportation advocates say Indy’s system is inferior compared with cities of similar size, such as Columbus, Ohio.
“The fed money uses the same formula, but it changes on the state and local level. Not all governments are peeling off property taxes. And we have property tax caps. It’s a great source of funding but (a bus system) is only as good as the revenue it brings in,” said Cross.
“Years ago, the city invested in mass transit but we as a region have never really increased that based on the needs of the current population. We’re also seeing a movement toward people wanting to live in urban spaces. We aren’t keeping up with the demand or the needs,” added Anna Tyszkiewicz, executive director of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Because of their financial woes, over time IndyGo has had to decrease buses on routes or cut routes altogether. They’ve also had to cut office staff, reduce over time opportunities and make administrative changes such as finding more affordable health care insurance.
In addition to long wait times, bus riders complain that all stops are not created equal. There are more than 4,000 stops. Some are equipped with amenities such as shelters with benches while others are simply a post with bus information on it. Cross said this is a city issue.
“We can’t just put them in dirt so we look for existing infrastructure, like good drainage and sidewalks, which is provided typically by the city,” said Cross.
If the infrastructure is optimal, IndyGo must come up with $12,000, the average cost for one shelter. They then have to have a shelter or bench architecturally designed, and then have those drawings licensed and approved by the city’s Office of Code Enforcement.
Cross knows this seems like a lot of red tape in order for customers to simply sit down while waiting on a stop, but said it’s all for the customer’s safety.
An organization called People for Urban Progress has been trying to address this issue by installing seating at bus stops that’s been salvaged from the old Bush Stadium. They’re called PUP stops.
A ray of hope
Things aren’t all bleak for IndyGo. Cross said last year the City-County Council approved a larger budget for IndyGo. With the additional $6 million, they tweaked some lines, added weekend services and added more busses to routes 8, 10 and 39 their most used bus lines, among other changes.
To further reduce health care costs and to make it more convenient, IndyGo added an on-site health center for employees.
There are plans to get new, articulated buses in August and put them on high frequency routes. IndyGo has also received a grant that will allow them to invest in real-time-bus-arrival technology. Phone apps and a mobile website is also projected to roll out next year.
IndyGo is making due with the funds they have, but various community agencies and leaders, businesses, civic and neighborhood organizations and others have joined forces to create the Indy Connect plan, a more comprehensive transportation plan.
The plan is intended to provide transportation options – from increased local buses, to rapid transit lines, to roadways and pedestrian and bike pathways – and connect people to jobs, health care, education and shopping. Its goal is to also increase Central Indiana’s competitiveness and economic development opportunities, while improving the environment, job growth opportunities and quality of life.
“We’re going to double buses first. By year five, many of the rapid transit lines will be up and operating,” said Ehren Bingaman, executive director of Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority.
Bingaman, Tyszkiewicz of the MPO and Mike Terry, president and CEO of IndyGo are spearheading Indy Connect.
The future
of transit
Indy Connect is said to be a solid plan, but their main hurdle is finding funding for it. Earlier this year, Indy Connect stakeholders and supporters presented the plan to the Indiana General Assembly to get permission to ask local governments, particularly Marion and Hamilton counties, to have a referendum asking voters to agree to have income taxes raised to pay for the transit plan that would span 10 years and cost $1.3 billion. Federal dollars would cover half the cost of the expansion.
In the Indiana General Assembly this year, the House voted 56-39 in favor of the plan called House Bill 1011 on the legislative level.
The Senate did not favor the bill. The Senate’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee voted 12-0 on an amendment that would send House Bill 1011 to a summer study committee. There’s still a small chance that the bill’s key provisions could be added back when the bill goes back to the full Senate in Jan. 2014. Senate leaders have expressed reservations about the bill’s costs and size.
Some feel House Bill 1011 was sent to a summer committee as a stalling tactic.
On Aug. 5 the summer committee, chaired by Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, will meet and IndyGo and others will present their ideas.
Financing the plan is an issue, but Ron Gifford, executive director of Central Indiana Transit Task Force said it goes beyond capital.
“Some people look at this as a social issue and not a transportation issue,” said Gifford. Cross agreed and added that many think bus riders are primarily “those people” – poor and minority. By updating the transportation system, they hope negative perceptions will change.
Once IndyConnect gets it’s desired funding and public support, they are hoping to generate a blended culture of “choice riders,” or people who aren’t dependent on the bus and dependent riders.
“It’s not about how it affects you personally, but how it affects the community as a whole,” said IndyGo’s Cross.
For more information on IndyGo, call (317) 635-3344 or visit IndyGo.net; or IndyConnect.org. To give your thoughts on Indy Connect, contact your district senator.
