INDIANAPOLIS — IndyGo was awarded nearly $22 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program from the Biden-Harris Administration.
IndyGo will use the funds to construct critical infrastructure and safety improvements along the Historic East section of the Blue Line bus rapid transit corridor. Specifically, the money will be used to make a 4.7-mile stretch of East Washington St. between Highland and Edmonson avenues safer by investing in the following improvements:
- Roadway lane configurations
- Dedicated bus lanes
- Upgraded sidewalks and crossings
- Street and pedestrian markings
- ADA-compliant curb ramps
- Signage and wayfinding
- Transit signal priority and traffic signals
An IndyGo spokesperson said this section was selected for the grant because of the high number of deadly and serious crashes that happen along the thoroughfare. The spokesperson added Indianapolis was one of the few mid-size transit agencies to receive money.
Issues along this stretch of Washington St. have long been documented. The 4.7-mile stretch the grant focuses on includes the intersection where a young girl was hit by a car trying to get on her bus on Wednesday.
Parents in the area have even formed a group focused on ensuring their children can walk and bike to school safely. It's called Safe Route to School Irvington. The group was formed after 7-year-old Hannah Crutchfield was killed crossing Washington St. after leaving her school.
Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis, a Twitter account that tracks pedestrian safety in Indy, said 10% of all pedestrian incidents it's tracked in the Circle City since mid-2022 have happened on Washington St.
The $22 million grant will go toward IndyGo's overall Blue Line project which encompasses 24 miles between Cumberland and the Indianapolis Airport.
According to IndyGo, the federal grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) will reduce the amount of local taxes needed to build the Blue Line Project. "We're very excited the USDOT recognized the significance of addressing the critical traffic and safety issues in this stretch of Washington Street," said IndyGo President and CEO Jennifer Pyrz.
"For the last several years, the Historic East area has been plagued by a high number of serious and deadly crashes. This investment in safety upgrades and street modernization, on a section of roadway that has been identified by the IMPO as part of Indianapolis’ High Injury Network, will also improve transit efficiency for a foundational community within our city," continued Pyrz.
The competitive RAISE program provides an opportunity for USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that work to achieve national objectives.
“IndyGo receiving RAISE grant funding is a huge win for our entire community, as it doubles as a crucial safety enhancement and public infrastructure project,” said City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works Director Brandon Herget.
“For two years in a row our community has received this significant and highly competitive funding and this announcement further solidifies the region’s ongoing commitments to enhancing safety for all travelers, with a particular emphasis on those who rely on transit," stated Herget.
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