TRANSIT ADVOCACY - After nearly a year of study, the Central Indiana Transit Task Force has announced its findings and plan for the future of mass transit in Indianapolis. Check out the proposed plan here. Unlike previous plans, this one was developed through a collaboration between CIRTA, IndyGo, the MPO, and private stakeholders.

The next step involves significant community input, so make sure to attend the meetings scheduled in your area. To get the transit system we want, we must speak up. Times and places for the community meetings can be found at Indy Connect's website www.indyconnect.org.

TRANSIT ADVOCACY - PUP attended the November CIRTA meeting today. INDOT representative Leigh Morris presented Indiana's position within the Midwest High Speed Rail Commission. This commission has governor-appointed members from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Of the 8 member states, Indiana has invested the least in passenger rail, but improvements along the northern border of the state are underway. Check out one of the maps here.

Also at the meeting, INDYGO reported on the future of their express bus routes from Carmel to Downtown and Fishers to Downtown. Although the service will be improving later this year, the grant funding this program will end in late 2010. CIRTA and INDYGO are investigating funding alternatives to keep the connection alive. 

TRANSIT ADVOCACY - From this month's CIRTA meeting: HNTB has been selected to develop the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the North East Corridor Rail Line. This document is the first step in implementing a physical Light Rail plan for Indianapolis. More details available here soon and at CIRTA's website.

TRANSIT ADVOCACY - Our FIRST public engagement video on Indianapolis Transit (click here to view). Hear what people have to say about biking and public transportation in Indianapolis. We will share these stories with our contacts at the city. Special thanks to DACO Films for filming and editing this piece.