Public transportation options for Central Indiana are making news thanks to an initiative spearheaded by several area business leaders through an organization called Indy Connect. Boone County figures into the group's proposals in only minor areas, but the number of Boone County residents who commute to Indianapolis and other communities in the region, as well as the growth expected to come our way from Indy in the next few decades, mean we need to be aware of any such initiatives and involved in the conversations about these future plans. I recently attended a briefing on the plan on behalf of Boone County government; my notes from that meeting are copied below. If you are interested in the topic, I encourage you to visit the Indy Connect website (http://www.indyconnect.org/) or attend one of the upcoming public forums in Boone County. The first will be at the Zionsville Library, February 25, at 6:30; the second at the Lebanon Library, March 18 at 6:00. I'd be happy to share my thoughts in more depth, and would love to hear yours.
Central Indiana Transportation Task Force Briefing – 2/1/2010
Presentation by Mark Miles, co-chair, of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
About twenty in attendance, including county government officials from Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks & Hancock counties, along with IndyGo & InDOT officials.
The presentation was a briefing on the upcoming (2/10/2010) Task Force report on the future of transportation in central Indiana. The task force is a largely private sector group, primarily businesses, sponsored by the Corporate Partnership.
Some info of interest:
Mobility Issues: Indy is nation’s 24th largest metro area, with 100th largest transportation system
Environmental Issues: 99th of 100 in carbon footprint per capita; Marion Co. consistently rated “F” from American Lung Association
Findings/Recommendations:
A Multi-modal system -- including expanded roads, busses and rail – would be best solution.
Funding opt-in by county via referendum, perhaps a dedicated sales tax of .25-.5%
Would need only Marion & Hamilton counties to begin work
Proposals:
Targeting cost-effective highway expansion (redirecting $600M from currently-scheduled projects)
Tolled express lanes – I-69 NE of Indy, I-65 SE
Expanded Regional bus system – would include express option to 334 in Boone
Blended light & commuter rail – would use existing E/W rails along Washington St & N/S rails diagonally across Meridian; extend commuter lines to Fishers & Greenwood
Boone County would receive approximately 3% of Initial Rate of Return benefit
Key Principles:
Pay to Play
County Referendum
Public-Private Partnership
Strategy:
DOT Savings re-direct
Toll revenue
TIF (limited)
Dedicated Sales Tax
Proposal will be handed off to CIRTA & MPO after Feb. 10
Build public education through 2010, lobby legislature for 2011, begin referendums 2011 or 2012 (Indy Corporate Partnership will fund referendum campaigns).
About Me
- David Rodgers
- Lebanon, IN, United States
- I am a life-long resident of Boone County and a 1989 graduate of Western Boone High School. My wife Rylin and I, along with our children Matthew and Laura, live southwest of Lebanon on the old family dairy farm that has been in my family nearly 70 years. I am a graduate of Purdue University, and for the past 20+ years have taught history, government and English at Zionsville High School. I have a Master's degree in American Studies from Purdue and am working -- slowly -- toward a Master of Public Affairs degree at IUPUI. Before being elected to the County Council in 2008, I served six years on the Jackson Township Board, having first been elected in 2002. I also serve as the Council's representative on the board of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation.
