In a crowded hearing room in the basement of the Statehouse, nine Republican lawmakers voted to advance a bill that puts the future of a rapid transit bus route in doubt.
The Indiana House Roads and Transportation Committee voted along party lines Tuesday, Feb. 27, in favor of Senate Bill 52, delivering a devastating blow to IndyGo and supporters of expanded mass transit in Indianapolis.
“I struggle with Senate Bill 52, but I think this is the right thing to do,” Committee chair Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, said near the close of Tuesday’s hearing. “This is the pause that needs to take place so that we can have an overall conversation about road funding.”
The legislation from Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, would place a one-year moratorium on the use of dedicated lanes for the Blue Line, a move that IndyGo officials have said would “effectively kill” the planned bus route by causing the city to lose out on $150 million in federal funding.
That’s because the transit agency modeled its grant application to the Federal Transit Administration on the premise that the Blue Line would use dedicated bus lanes, rather than shared lanes, along Washington Street. A one-year ban on dedicated lanes would force IndyGo to start the grant process over again.
Pressel pointed out that IndyGo hasn’t yet been awarded the funding, but IndyGo Interim Ceo Jennifer Pyrz testified Tuesday that the agency already has been given FTA approval to start spending money on the Blue Line with the expectation that IndyGo would reimbursed when the grant is executed.
“So as long as we continue to meet the requirements of the grant, we are in line to get the funding, but you’re right — until it’s actually signed, it’s not 100% for sure,” Pyrz said.
The federal funding also would be used toward infrastructure improvements along Washington Street, including upgrades to sidewalks, accessible ramps and drainage improvements.
Ten people testified against the bill Tuesday, while none spoke in support. That followed a pattern in which the majority of people who have testified on the bill in recent weeks have urged lawmakers to vote against it.
The committee approved an amendment from Pressel that clarifies that the one-year moratorium on dedicated lanes would only apply to bus rapid transit in Marion County. He said by narrowing it down to Marion County, it forces a “larger conversation” around road funding.
Rep. Dave Heine, R-Fort Wayne, said he appreciated the amendment because he “doesn’t wanna drag [Allen County] into this situation.”
Rep. Blake Johnson, an Indianapolis Democrat, took issue with the change.
“If we’re gonna say as a legislature that dedicated lanes are bad public policy, I don’t understand how that can be just bad public policy for the most dense, highly populated, highly trafficked community in the state of Indiana,” Johnson said.
An amendment from Johnson that would have required the state to reimburse the city if it does not receive the $150 million in federal funding failed on party lines, though committee members praised Johnson for his “creativity.”
Prior to the vote, committee Democrats urged Republicans to reconsider.
“The folks here today who testified look rightfully dismayed, and I think members of the (Democratic) minority share that look, but the only group of people who look worse than us is the members of the (Republican) majority,” said Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, whose district includes portions of the planned route. “I don’t think any of us actually like this piece of legislation. It feels wrong because it is wrong.”
Prior to casting her “no” vote, Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, said she was troubled by Freeman’s testimony last week, when the state senator labeled buses as outdated technology and suggested riders should instead use services such as Lyft or Uber.
“That was offensive to me because of course so many of our community members cannot afford a $50 Uber to their doctor’s office, let alone a $10 Uber, but they can afford a monthly transit pass,” Hamilton said.
The room then fell quiet as Pressell took a roll call vote: 9-4, with all four Democrats on the committee siding against the bill.
Senate Bill 52 will next head to the House floor, where it will need to clear two readings to pass the chamber. If the bill passes, it would then return to the Senate, where lawmakers can sign off on amendments that were made in the House. The bill would then be sent to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature.
If the Senate does not agree on the House amendments, then the bill would be assigned to a conference committee. More on that process here.
On Tuesday, some spectators who came to the Statehouse to testify against the bill shed tears as the votes were cast.
So, too, did Johnson, who described his efforts for the past 10 years to make the Blue Line a reality. At one point during his final comments, someone brought him a tissue as he asked Republicans to reconsider their position.
His Republican colleagues commended Johnson for working hard to represent their interests.
“Rep. Johnson has done more for anybody in his district than I’ve ever seen,” Pressel said. “I’ve never seen anybody work as hard as what you’ve done.”
Then Pressel and the rest of the Republicans voted against him.
Mirror Indy reporter Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.