The future of public transportation in Indy (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: appointed, sales)
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I'm in favor. I've been saying for a long time that Indy needs meaningful public transit, and I think this is a step in the right direction. I was disappointed to see the proposal in 2008 fall on its face, but I think this is a better proposal anyway. It borrows ideas from several ideas and rolls them all into a package that should please everyone.
I like the idea of a toll-based express lane, but I'd rather see HOV lanes to encourage carpooling. I also like the idea of rail transit; I hoped to see a rail line between the airport and downtown before the Super Bowl, but I guess that's just a pipe dream.
At one time, Indianapolis was the largest inland city in the world. It was one of America's most walkable cities. Home of the largest union station in the world. One of the country's largest streetcar networks. Capital of the interurban...and so on.
It really is a shame to see public transportation and/or walking relegated to third-class status in this state (first class would be driving, second class is having someone else drive you). I wish Fort Wayne had some sort of commuter option to other cities, besides the daily airport shuttles. We're long due for an overhaul of how we do transit not only locally, but this country as well.
I am heavily in favor of better public transit .I cannot drive due to medical issues and it is a PITA to get around town .I have to walk more than an hour just to get to Indygo's only route in my area,and in the winter time NOT possible .A taxi ?? not at those prices .If Indy politicans ever get off their butts and do more instead of more talk we might get somewhere .
This is something that should be able to easily justify a slight increase in taxes. I love the expanded bus and rail service around the city. It would also be great to drive by the rest of the traffic on 465 during rush hour.
As an outsider looking in (but still somewhat familiar with the Indy metro area) I just wanted to express my opinion:
I honestly believe that the plans for light rail and heavy rail are an awesome idea...I cannot tell you how many times I have been at the airport (after taking a shuttle from Bloomington) and wishing there was a direct line from the airport to downtown (like from O'Hare to Downtown Chicago). The only reliable way is to take a taxi and that can be expensive. I believe that if Indianapolis wants to continue to attract people to the city (especially recent graduates who usually have no money to spend on a car or maintain a car to always drive around) the city will need to move forth with this plan.
One argument that I have heard against these plans are that it will make "bad elements/crime" more mobile and that it is only for the poor. I realize that buses usually carry a stigma with being poor, but I was surprised with people thinking that about commuter rail also. As an example, the North Shore of Chicago was built around commuter rail and street cars and that is the most prestigious/wealthy area in Chicago. Also look at the main-line suburbs of Philadelphia...they speak for itself. I believe that spending tax money to develop a mass transit system that is becoming more needed and crucial is well worth it! What will happen when Fishers, Carmel, Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, and all of the surrounding suburbs are built up? It would be ridiculous for there not to be any other forms of transit besides driving. Once again, this is just my point of view.
P.S. The main reason why I care so much about this is because after I graduate from IU, I plan to move to Chicago (always have wanted to as its only 30 mins from home) and mass transit in Indy will most likely convince me to stay so I am all for it! I think Indy is a great city with the potential to become even greater!
P.S. AGAIN lol (I am not trying to put down Indy in any way by making references to other cities, but I just wanted to put it out there that mass transit is a department that Indianapolis is SERIOUSLY lacking in!)
This is something that should be able to easily justify a slight increase in taxes. I love the expanded bus and rail service around the city. It would also be great to drive by the rest of the traffic on 465 during rush hour.
Will pay for my share? This won't be anything of a "slight increase in taxes." I don't believe that at all. This is just another typical taxpayer subsidized jobs program for the Indy construction area. There is an elite group of politicians and business owners in this metro area that love taking from others and putting that money in their own personal bank accounts. I wouldn't be so against it if I didn't also have to _pay_ to ride the bus, use the express lanes, etc.. What really ticks me off is that they want to provide rail service to only Greenwood and Fishers. That is their only goal, the expanded bus service is just a lure to try and get others excited and on board.
I am voting no. I have never been active in politics outside of just voting, but things are getting to the point where I am going to have to print fliers and start walk, passing them out. Things are out of control in this city. We have K-12 that wants more of my money, colleges that want more of my money, public transit systems that want more of my money.
If this does pass, my charitable giving will drop dollar for dollar. If I pay $100 more in taxes, some charity does without $100. If the taxes are more than I give to charity, time to cut back my spending. This means the three trash bags filled with plastics I take to the recycle place every month are going into a landfill. I am not driving out of my way five miles to "save the Earth." Not driving those extra miles every month will save me some there. The next will be donations to Goodwill. That stuff will now be sold at garage sales or pitched if I can't find a buyer. I am not wasting gas to donate goods that I see no benefit from. (No, I don't get a tax break for my charitable donations, as I don't donate enough). Lastly, it will be time to order things on-line and stop shopping locally. You can avoid the sales tax, though local businesses would no longer be getting income as most of my purchases will be from out-of-state. Worst case scenario is I stop eating out at local mom and pop food places. Sucks they won't be getting my business, but what else can one do when the government continually steals more money from their paychecks?
This is nothing more than a blissninnie plan that steals money from the entire metro area and makes a handful of folks rich. I work for higher ed and it is getting really, really hard for me to agree with others that tuition should stay as low as possible. Maybe I should be like everyone else and advocate much higher tuition since it would mean more money for me personally? Is this what this country has come to: Demand higher taxation of your neighbors if it benefits you personally?
it's a very ambitious plan to say the least, but it's too late. This should have been done 5-8 years ago when the going was good for the economy. Now, convincing a family with an out of work breadwinner, or 2 out of work breadwinners that they are going to have to pony up another couple hundy in taxes ... uhhhhh, no, not bloody likely.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that high speed rail corridor from Chicago to Cincy with a stop in Indy .. that would make this humble mod, really really really happy.
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If there won't be dancing at the revolution, I'm not coming.
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Last edited by domergurl; 02-10-2010 at 06:18 PM..
Will pay for my share? This won't be anything of a "slight increase in taxes." I don't believe that at all. This is just another typical taxpayer subsidized jobs program for the Indy construction area. There is an elite group of politicians and business owners in this metro area that love taking from others and putting that money in their own personal bank accounts. I wouldn't be so against it if I didn't also have to _pay_ to ride the bus, use the express lanes, etc.. What really ticks me off is that they want to provide rail service to only Greenwood and Fishers. That is their only goal, the expanded bus service is just a lure to try and get others excited and on board.
First of all can you even name one person who is in this so called "elite group," or is this just a ridiculous accusation. The next thing is of course you would have to pay to use the transit, but the thought is that public transit saves you money in the long run. It can also save you time. And just try to understand this for a minute. Fishers has the most traffic in the metro area by far, with Greenwood just behind. That is why those two rapidly growing suburbs need the rail. I don't think that 70 or 74 get congested driving in from the Westside like 69 and 65 do from the North and Southsides.
First of all can you even name one person who is in this so called "elite group," or is this just a ridiculous accusation. The next thing is of course you would have to pay to use the transit, but the thought is that public transit saves you money in the long run. It can also save you time. And just try to understand this for a minute. Fishers has the most traffic in the metro area by far, with Greenwood just behind. That is why those two rapidly growing suburbs need the rail. I don't think that 70 or 74 get congested driving in from the Westside like 69 and 65 do from the North and Southsides.
And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there also a freight line that runs from Fishers to Greenwood? If so, then an agreement between whoever operate the commuter line and whoever owns the line would prove to be much cheaper as no (or minimal) new lines for that route would need to be laid.
Last edited by Northwest Indiana; 02-10-2010 at 07:17 PM..
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Yes! 1000x yes!
