After years of planning, IndyGo is finally breaking ground on the Blue Line, a bus rapid transit project set to replace its busy 8 route on Washington Street. The project faced challenges like inflation and legislative hurdles, but secured a federal grant and is now moving forward. The Blue Line will connect Marion County, from the Indianapolis International Airport to Cumberland, with a ten-minute service frequency and stations in the middle of the street.
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyGo is poised to begin construction on its highly anticipated Blue Line bus rapid transit route along Washington Street , finally replacing one of its busiest routes. The groundbreaking could occur by the end of this month, marking the culmination of years of planning. The Blue Line will supersede the existing 8 route, providing a dedicated connection between Marion County and the Indianapolis International Airport, extending to the town of Cumberland .
\'It is a huge sigh of relief to finally be at this point,' said Carrie Black of IndyGo. 'The Blue Line has been a long time coming.' The project faced several hurdles during its planning phase, including IndyGo scaling back the initial scope due to rising inflation and a state legislative bill last year that threatened to ban the bus-only lanes essential for the Blue Line's construction. \However, the bus rapid transit line successfully navigated these challenges thanks to a last-minute federal transportation grant approval from the Biden administration. 'We've been waiting and waiting,' Black said. 'Certainly when you are having a grant executed right as administrations are changing, it can be a little bit worrisome. Hopefully, it will be smooth sailing ahead.' The 8 bus, currently serving Washington Street, typically carries an impressive million riders annually, ranking as IndyGo's second-most popular route after the Red Line, the agency's inaugural bus rapid transit project. 'It takes me everywhere I need to go,' said Heather McKinney, a frequent rider of the 8 bus. 'It is convenient and it comes every half hour.' The Blue Line is envisioned to provide riders with a frequency of every ten minutes and feature stations strategically located in the middle of Washington Street. Construction is expected to commence soon, with the service potentially launching as early as 2028. IndyGo is proactively engaging the public by hosting open house meetings along the route this month to inform residents about the construction process and its potential impacts. Each meeting location will offer two sessions at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. on their designated dates
Indygo Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit Washington Street Indianapolis Construction Transportation Public Transit Indianapolis International Airport Cumberland
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