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Two IndyGo Public Hearings on Service Reductions Scheduled for Thursday, May 20
Indianapolis — Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) is recommending the following service adjustments to accommodate a dramatic shortfall in its 2010 property tax distribution. Property tax is IndyGo’s primary source of local revenue, which accounts for about 30% of IndyGo’s total annual budget: $53 million.
In preparation for some expected reductions in revenue and unplanned expenses, IndyGo cut a half million dollars worth of service earlier this year. Fiscal analysis of this current shortfall indicates that the transit provider must cut $3.2 million in expenses in order to maintain a balanced budget for 2010.
The proposed service changes will also help IndyGo address its 2011 budget, which is likely to be affected with similar reductions in State and Local revenue. As with 2010, the 2011 budget will rely on certain assumptions related to revenue and expenses. These assumptions include increases in fuel costs and employee benefits despite reduced revenue from local property tax and State PMTF (Public Mass Transportation Funds).
IndyGo is proposing the following changes that would take effect in mid-July.
Please note the following terms: “peak” refers to rush-hour commuting hours in the morning and evening; “off peak” refers to non rush- hour periods throughout the day.
Proposed Fixed Route Eliminations
• Route 11: East 16th Street
• Route 55: English
• Route 87: Eastside Circulator
Proposed Routing Changes
• Route 4: Eliminate select trips to Community North and trips via 38th Street
• Route 5: Eliminate select trips to 34th and Elmira
• Route 12: Eliminate 12R, service via Raymond
• Route 17: Extend service to Keystone at the Crossing
• Route 19: Eliminate 96th Street Loop select trips
• Route 18: Eliminate service to Keystone at the Crossing. Service between 38th and 62nd Street will be shifted to College Avenue.
• Route 21: Eliminate weekday service to Mitthoefer and 30th St.
• Route 26: Eliminate service between Glendale and Keystone at the Crossing and between Keystone/National and Thompson/ Emerson
• Route 30: Eliminate select trips on Arlington
• Route 34: Eliminate weekday service to ITT/ Mayflower (3 trips affected)
Proposed Frequency Adjustments
• Route 2: weekday peak and off peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), Saturday (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 5: weekday off peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 10: weekday peak (from 20-30 minutes to 30 minutes)
• Route 12: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), Sunday service eliminated
• Route 14: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), Sunday service eliminated
• Route 16: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 17: weekday off peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), Saturday (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), Sunday (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 18: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 21: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 22: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 90 minutes), weekday off peak (from 60 minutes to 90 minutes)
• Route 24: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes), eliminate Saturday service
• Route 25: weekday peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 26: weekday peak (from 40 minutes to 60 minutes), weekday off peak (from 70 minutes to 60 minutes), Saturday (from 65 minutes to 60 minutes), eliminate Sunday service
• Route 30: weekday peak and off peak (from 20 and 45 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 31: weekday off peak (from 30 minutes to 60 minutes)
• Route 50 – Red Line: weekday peak (from 15 minutes to 30 minutes), weekday off peak (from 15 minutes to 30 minutes), Saturday service eliminated
Note that no service changes are recommended for Routes 3, 8, 15, 28, 37, 38 and 39.
Proposed Fare Increase
IndyGo proposes a fare increase in order to retain some services that would otherwise be eliminated. This would result in an approximate 14% increase on all fares.
The additional following changes are proposed to take effect over upcoming months.
• ADA Open Door service: Adjust service to comply with Federal mandate to provide service within ¾ mile of IndyGo fixed route service, effective January 2011.
• Green Line/ Airport Express: Eliminate route in September 2010 when current operation contract expires.
• IndyGo Commuter Express (ICE) Routes: Discontinue Carmel and Fishers routes when Federal grant funds for these demonstration services are exhausted at year’s end 2010.
Public Hearing
May 20
Indianapolis Convention Center
100 South Capitol Ave, Rooms 101-102
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
All 27 IndyGo routes serving downtown offer walking-distance access to this facility. Translation services, including ASL interpretation, will be provided upon request with at least 48 hours notice. Call 317-614-9284 to request special services.
Outcomes
IndyGo recommendations related to the budget shortfall as described above may change per public comment and subsequent financial review.
Following the public hearings on May 20, the IndyGo Board of Directors will review the proposed service changes along with public comments to make final decisions about IndyGo service and fare changes required to meet this fiscal challenge.
At the IndyGo Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, May 27, in the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation board room (1501 W. Washington Street), this budget shortfall situation will be discussed, and the board will determine how to address the budget shortfall with changes to IndyGo service and fares. Once these decisions are made, the actual impact of the budget shortfall on IndyGo’s organizational structure (e.g., routes, revenues, budget, ridership and staffing) can be determined.
About IndyGo
IndyGo, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, provides public bus transit services to residents and visitors throughout Marion County. IndyGo is led by President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Terry, and a seven-member, bipartisan board appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis and the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County. With 29 Fixed Routes and a Flexible Services Department, which includes an ADA-compliant paratransit service, IndyGo provides an average of nine million trips per year to our city’s workforce, students, seniors and visitors. Visit www.indygo.net or call 317-635-3344 for information. Follow IndyGo on Twitter at IndyGoBus. Be an IndyGo Facebook Fan; search pages “IndyGo.”
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