IndyGo has received a $149.9 million federal grant to construct its Blue Line bus rapid transit project in Indianapolis.
IndyGo says the Blue Line will run 24 miles and connect the Indianapolis International Airport to the town of Cumberland via downtown Indianapolis along I-70, Holt Road and Washington Street.
The project will feature 60-foot hybrid buses operating 20 hours per weekday from 30 stations, aiming to reduce transit travel times by up to 30%.
The federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration will support the project’s estimated $396 million cost. Leaders say it will enhance transportation infrastructure and accessibility in the city.
The remaining project costs are being covered by a combination of local funding from the transit income tax authorized by the City-County Council and Indianapolis Mayor, as well as the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, Citizens Energy Group, and other federal sources, including $1 million in Community Project Funding secured by Congressman André Carson and nearly $22 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2025, with the route set to open for service in late 2028.
This article was written by WIBC reporter John Herrick.