IndyConnect has Limited Vision
Posted by Graeme Sharpe in Neighborhoods, Pedestrian, Transit on Nov 13th, 2010 | 23 comments
Public investment in transportation infrastructure is what Indianapolis is all about, and is still known as the “Crossroads of America” because of it. The investment in transportation infrastructure started early with the canals, picked up speed with rail (including the first ever Union Station), and continued when Indy became a key part of the National Road, our first federal highway. More recently the best new airport terminal in the US was opened.
We have our intercity transportation and freight pretty well figured out, but now it’s time to get our local transit in...
Fun for Friday: American Bus Stories
Posted by Kevin Kastner in Transit on Nov 12th, 2010 | 4 comments
This post is meant to be a companion piece to my German Train story that I posted in January.
Traveling by bus in America can lead to some interesting stories. I’ve only ridden a Greyhound on one occasion, back in the year 2000, which was a round trip to Pittsburgh.  The trip eastward boarded around midnight; which, by coincidence, is about the same time I boarded the Amtrak to DC. Nothing encourages public transportation more than boarding in the middle of the night, I say. Otherwise, this trip was mostly uneventful, and I actually fell asleep. The trip home included a...
BRT and what it might look like in Indy
Posted by Curt Ailes in Transit on Nov 11th, 2010 | 24 comments
Since the unveiling of Indyconnect’s long term proposal on Monday November 8th, those of us who were advocating AND EXPECTING light rail transit, are left to pick up the pieces. What we had been hoping for was light rail transit that would be implimented along Washington Street. Traditionally, light rail has been a GREAT motivator of economic investment in communities along it’s route. This fact, and this fact alone, was what most people were hoping for with Indyconnect’s intial plan of LRT along this route.
However, this was not to be. Due to the current economic climate, coupled...
Ohio Street Rain Garden
Posted by Curt Ailes in Neighborhoods, Pedestrian on Nov 10th, 2010 | 6 comments
A couple of weeks ago, Mayor Greg ballard announced a green infrastructure project which would be located on Ohio Street in downtown. The stretch of sidewalk to be improved (and in this case, improved is the proper term) is between College Ave, and Park Ave. This is the same block that contains the newly, and recently featured here (and here) Nature Conservancy.
The project addresses what for many cities today, is a glaring problem. Stormwater runoff management. This specific project aims to tackle this issue by replacing concrete and pavement, with permeated pavement and a rain garden. This is the...
What Indy could learn from Glendale, CA and its Parking Plan
Posted by Curt Ailes in Pedestrian on Nov 9th, 2010 | 2 comments
As we move closer to a final decision by the Indianapolis City-Council and the public learns more about what the deal could mean for the region’s long term parking meter reality, a constant light needs to be shined so that we can all stay current. I read a really good op-ed by local political blogger Paul Ogden of “Ogden on Politics“. His most recent post dated November 7th, highlighted the pitfalls of the latest contract modifications by ACS  and Deputy Mayor Michael Huber of Mayor Ballard’s office. The focal point of the article examines how Indianapolis could opt-out...
