IndyGo announced it has received an $80.975 million grant to construct the Purple Line, the second of three planned bus rapid transit projects.
The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
“We’re so grateful to the FTA for another huge vote of confidence,” Inez Evans, IndyGo president and CEO, said in a statement. “This award means we can finally put years of planning into action for the second BRT line.”
The Purple Line will run 15.2 miles, going north from the transit center downtown to 38th Street and then east to Post Road before going north again to Lawrence. The proposed route shares some stops with the Red Line, which goes north and south.
Along with the bus route, there will be 9 1/2 miles of sidewalk additions or repairs, 355 new or updated curb ramps and new traffic lights.
The FTA grant will cover about half of the projected cost for the Purple Line. The remaining costs will be covered by a combination of local funding from the transit income tax, the Department of Public Works and other FTA and Federal Highway Administration sources.
IndyGo plans to hold public meetings in January 2022 to discuss construction schedules. Construction is expected to begin as early as February 2022, with the route set to open in 2024.
