13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Hoosiers weigh in on mass transit plans

Hoosiers weigh in on mass transit plans

Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - As gas prices rise, Hoosiers are weighing in on a plan to bring mass transit to central Indiana. While some are on the fast track to high-speed transit, others are trying to put the brakes on the project.

"I'd really like to see it happen sooner. Putting more money into 465 and I-69 is a crime," one woman told transportation planners.

Transit officials pitched a starter system that would use the State Fair line to provide diesel light rail between Noblesville and downtown during peak travel periods.  They say it could be up and running by 2012.

The cost of the plan is roughly $160 million, which is far less than the full build out, but officials still aren't sure where the money will come from.

"Part of making it work, it does require subsidies. If the private sector could have made it work by now, they would have," said Ehren Bingaman with the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority.

Those at the meeting had questions that ranged from the need for a transit system to having space on trains for bikes to the use of diesel, what one person called "antiquated technology."
 
Another concern involved Union Station, the proposed end point downtown.

"I don't know the last time you walked through there, but it's barely inhabitable and needs to be replaced," said .

Transit officials acknowledged at this time the transit center is not part of the budget, at least not for the start-up system. Few left the meeting without a strong opinion.

Betsy Jones who lives in Noblesville said she would "absolutely use it with the environmental impact, the time and expense (saved) with rising gas prices."

O'Brien Bassett offered a different take.

"Indianapolis is spread out everywhere, light rail would not work. One line for 3,000 people, $160 million? That's a lot of money," Bassett said.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization and CIRTA plan five more public meetings thru June 30.