The Purple Line is closer to reality, snaking its way down the middle of East 38th Street and up Post Road.

It’s the second stage of Indianapolis’ commitment to its bus rapid transit system and promises to connect downtown Indianapolis to Lawrence on the northeast side.

Here’s what we know about the progress of construction on the Purple Line.

What is the Purple Line’s route?

The Purple Line starts at the Julia M. Carson Transit Center in downtown Indianapolis and runs along the existing Red Line on Capitol Avenue and Meridian Street north to 38th Street. The new construction begins near the Indiana State Fairgrounds entrance and heads east. It has been separated into six sections, beginning at the 38th and Meridian intersection and heading east until turning north at the intersection with Post Road. The final leg heads to the Fort Benjamin Harrison/Ivy Tech Community College station at 59th Street. The Purple Line will stop at both Ivy Tech campuses along its route.

How is construction on the Purple Line progressing?

Construction on the $188 million Purple Line was initially supposed to start in 2021 but was delayed until the groundbreaking on Feb. 25, 2022.

Deaon Smith, Purple Line outreach coordinator, said construction is underway in nearly all segments of the Purple Line, consisting of roadway work and storm sewer construction. Construction also has begun on several of the stations on the line.

Every section of the Purple Line route is still open to two-way traffic, and Smith said the only thing motorists must face are “intermittent lane shifts and temporary side street closures.”

When is the Purple Line expected to open?

Construction was initially estimated to take about two years. Smith now says the project will extend well into next year, saying it’s “projected to finish on or after October,” with service beginning shortly thereafter.

What are some highlights of the Purple Line project?

The project will include 9.5 miles of new sidewalks on both sides of the street, three miles of multi-use path from Tacoma to Sheridan avenues, an addition or upgrade of more than 350 curb ramps to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, storm sewer separation, new street paving, and five new traffic signals. In addition to the 18 new Purple Line stations, the new bus rapid transit line will run on 13 existing Red Line stations nearer to downtown.

Who will be served by the Purple Line?

According to IndyGo, the project will provide faster bus service for about 58,000 people and 134,000 jobs within walking distance of the route. The population near the route of the Purple Line is estimated to comprise about 62% minorities and 30% low-income residents, according to IndyGo.

How often will Purple Line buses run, and how long will the wait be?

The Purple Line will be serviced by 28 new 60-foot buses with doors opening on either side of the vehicle, according to IndyGo. The Purple Line will be open from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays with expanded service later into the night on weekends, and it will be open for 365 days a year. A Purple Line bus is expected to arrive at each station every 10 minutes at peak times, IndyGo says. The schedule will change during non-peak hours of service.

Is the Purple line environmentally friendly?

The Purple Line will improve local air quality, IndyGo says, by reducing diesel fuel consumption and emissions, because the bus rapid transit system uses zero emission, fully electric buses, which also produce very little noise pollution. Electric charging infrastructure also will be added at the Lawrence station, which will allow for 10- to 20-minute charges at the end of the route.

How much will the project cost, and who is paying for it?

The $188 million project will include $126.9 million for infrastructure improvements, $36 million for new stations, $18 million for new buses and $7 million for financing and other costs. IndyGo was awarded nearly $81 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Capital Investment Grant. The remainder of costs will be paid from revenues collected from the transit income tax, city public works funds and other federal transportation funding sources. IndyGo will pay for the Purple Line’s operations when it opens through its own operations budget.

How can the public learn about upcoming road closures for the project?

IndyGo publishes updates on the project on its website as well as on its Facebook page and on its account on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. Smith said residents also can visit the IndyGo website to sign up for a free online newsletter that gives updates on current roadwork and a three-week look ahead on future construction.

An earlier version of this story included the wrong number of buses purchased by IndyGo. The correct number is 28.

Dwight Adams is a contributor for Mirror Indy. Contact him at hdadams0621@gmail.com.