Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting - 53

2010 Annual Meeting

Multimodal Transit on Track in Central Indiana
BY EHREN T. BINGAMAN Executive Director Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority Indianapolis, IN

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onversations about transit in central Indiana have changed. Not long ago, those conversations centered on one question: “Does central Indiana need mass transit?” The residents of this notoriously car-bound area thought of transit as something for bigger cities, and saw public transportation as a resource for a small percentage of residents who don’t own cars. Attitudes began shifting in recent years. Fueled by factors such as rising gas prices, increased commute times, economic opportunities, and environmental awareness, residents began to ask such questions as “What would regional transit look like?” and “How would we pay for it?” Today, much of the public conversation has evolved once again. Residents seem to appreciate that the region needs a new vision of transit. As a result, the questions they often ask are “When will it get here?” and “Will it come to my neighborhood?” How did this evolution occur? Research, study, and hard work were certainly important, but so was a steady, determined process of communication and collaboration. Following are some highlights from that process.

Collaboration and Clarity
Like most metropolitan areas, central Indiana over the years has had a veritable alphabet soup of government agencies, quasi-governmental entities, and community organizations focused on transit. Much of the time, the public has been understandably confused about who does what. In recent years, the various central Indiana entities involved in transit have worked together to formulate a concise vision for transit. In 2009, this process was accelerated with the formation of Indy Connect, in which the three primary agencies driving transit—the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA); the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO); and IndyGo (technically known as the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation)— work together to engage and inform the public through a focused message and process.

system, the task force offered a plan that Action and Vision workplaces, the region seized the opporincluded expanded bus service, in-street The players in central Indiana transit tunity, even though many people said light rail, ground-level commuter rail, have not simply cast visions and waited suburban workers wouldn’t ride buses. and expanded roadways and bike and for everything to fall into place. Instead, With a steady, loyal, and vocal riderpedestrian pathways. they’ve worked to move the game forship, this successful commuter service However, rather has become “Exhibit A” in the than simply issuing its argument for transit in central report, the task force Indiana. encouraged the creIn addition, the players ation of Indy Connect worked together to launch studand effectively turned ies, pursue legislation, and investhe report over to the tigate funding options so that, coalition to commuwhen the new services get the nicate the results and green light, some of the preparaseek public input. This tion work will be completed and private sector endorsethe services will become reality ment of Indy Connect much sooner. and business leader engagement raised the Conclusion profile of the transit Obviously, countless factors conefforts in central Inditribute to the transit progress ana and opened doors being made in central Indiana, to interest and involvebut none would have had nearly ment by other business The several components of the successful Indy Connect partnership. as much impact without the compeople. bined efforts of the key players ward and make the vision tangible even and the inclusion of the public in the Public Engagement as the process continued. process. While the process continues Rather than simply communicate to the For example, when a federal Congesand the outcome is far from certain, public about transit, the proponents of tion Mitigation/Air Quality demonstrathe new nature of the conversation in public transit in central Indiana have tion grant enabled the development of central Indiana assures us that the future made a concerted effort to engage the express commuter bus service linking will indeed include a regional, multipublic in the conversation. The result suburban residents with downtown modal transit system. has been a series of more than 80 public meetings in locations through the region. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 During these meetings, residents not only heard about the transit vision Sustainable Transportation Redesigning streets along the bicycle for central Indiana; they were encourOptions route network so that they are more aged to ask questions and make suggesThe SFMTA is moving forward on 45 of inviting to bicyclists will be one of the tions. As feedback is gathered—nearly the 60 near-term bicycle projects as key ways that San Francisco can attract 10,000 comments have been received— part of the full Bicycle Plan that will more people to ride bicycles for their it also has been communicated to create bicycle facility improvements, everyday transportation needs. the public and incorporated into further educational efforts and innovaNumerous additional capital projpresentations. tive policies, and implement programs ects are underway and allowing us to A web site, www.indyconnect.org, to increase safe bicycle use in San renew or replace vital systems, strucprovides the public with regular updates Francisco. The 60 near-term projects tures, and vehicles while also protectas well as videos, maps, data, and other will add 34 miles to the existing ing the public’s huge investment in its information needed for citizens to 45 miles of bike lanes in the city, an surface transportation system in our understand and embrace the process. increase of 76 percent. world-class city.

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Private-Sector Push
Central Indiana has long been recognized for its public-private partnerships. Major development projects, international events, economic development initiatives, and more reached fruition thanks to a strong connection between the private and public sectors. This effort has been no exception, and it received a major boost last year when the Central Indiana Transit Task Force, a group of high-level business leaders, issued a report citing the community-wide social and economic benefits of improved transit. Calling for a robust, multimodal regional transit

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September 27, 2010 | 49
Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting

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