INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Senate will consider a bill surrounding the prohibition of dedicated lanes for public transportation, which will decide the future of projects like IndyGo’s Blue Line, this week at the Indiana Statehouse.
Senate Bill 52, which was brought forward by State Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-District 32, and State Sen. Blake Doriot, R-District 12, aims to prevent public transportation projects like the Blue Line from featuring one or more lanes dedicated to public transit vehicles.
According to the Indiana General Assembly’s website, the bill will be considered by lawmakers during a meeting at the statehouse that is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The meeting will decide the future of IndyGo’s proposed plans to construct dedicated bus lanes throughout its 24.5-mile-long Blue Line connecting Cumberland on the east with the Indianapolis International Airport on the west side of the city alongside Washington Street.
IndyGo has previously confirmed its plans to have the very first Blue Line passengers picked up in 2027.
Critics of the bill, like State Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-District 46, claim the bill will help improve transportation access to downtown, the airport and employment opportunities.
“Make no mistake: this bill is part of a campaign against IndyGo’s Blue Line, a project years in the making that would connect some of Indy’s most underserved communities with the rest of our city,” Sen. Hunley said. “However, the language of the bill threatens future transit projects everywhere.”
According to previous reports, Irvington businesses originally expressed support for the bill, referring to how the construction would harm business prospects in the area.
The businesses, which includes the Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza location in Irvington, then walked back on their support of the bill after listening to “many voices who believe Irvington, and Indianapolis, would be a better place with the Blue Line project as currently imagined.”
State Sen. Freeman recently confirmed his intentions to continue advocating for the bill.
“I understand that an individual or business needs to do what is in their best interest, even if that means opposing a one-year prohibition on dedicated lanes,” Sen. Freeman said. “The goal is not to eliminate IndyGo, the Blue Line or take away busses from those who utilize public transit. In my opinion, eliminating 60% of the lanes of travel on Washington Street – from Hancock County to Hendricks County – in favor of buses only is not in the best interest of anyone.”
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