IndyGo Purple Line prepares for October 13 launch

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Peters said he doesn’t always feel safe waiting for an IndyGo bus at East 42nd Street and North Post Road on a wide spot in the sidewalk where the bench is gone and he sits on a metal telephone company utility box.

”There used to be a bench over there and someone hit it and the bus company never replaced it.”

From Peters’ perch, he can see a new Bus Rapid Transit station at the intersection, nestled in between the north and southbound lanes, where starting on Oct. 13 IndyGo will begin picking up and dropping off Purple Line passengers.

”From my understanding, it’s going to be more often which is definitely going to be more convenient,” he said. “Also, it would be a central place to catch the bus. Be more comfortable some place to sit over there and not as exposed to traffic which is significant because I’ve known people to run up on the curb over here.”

IndyGo will literally roll out the $162 million Purple Line connecting Lawrence with downtown Indianapolis along Post Road and 38th and Meridian Streets.

Half of the project’s budget went for sidewalk, curb, road surface and drainage improvements.

When the new system is running, IndyGo buses will arrive every 15-20 minutes along North Post Road and more frequently along the Red Line route which will connect with the Purple Line.

Drivers will be challenged by the new traffic configurations which will give priority to the bus line.

“There is the dedicated bus lane so that means the bus will travel independently of traffic,” said IndyGo Chief Public Affairs Officer Carrie Black. “Also, when it gets to intersections there is transit signal priority meaning that the bus can trigger a red light to turn green for the bus to leave a little bit sooner than regular traffic.”

Black said that while there will be fewer stops along the route, the bus shelters will be safer and more accommodating for riders.

”With a BRT station every single one has covered seating. They also have level boarding,” she said. ”Previously with fixed routes, we may have bus stops every block, but when you’re talking about bus rapid transit and the efficiency that it provides, then the stops are spread apart a little bit farther but they’re still designed so that they are within a quarte-mile if not much less for most riders.”

The shelters will also provide kiosks for riders to pre-purchase their fares to hasten the boarding process.

”You have to pay to ride the bus and in the case of the Red Line and the Purple Line, you need to pay before you ride the bus,” said Black who adds that IndyGo is employing more fare monitors to reduce the amount of free riders who travel without paying.

IndyGo will provide Purple Line ambassadors to assist riders in accessing the new system during the first week of operation.

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