For those who want mass transit, the link is clear. If we can use Wiki census data:
Indy 1990-2000: 6.9% gain in population; 2000-2010: 6.1%
Denver 1990-2000: 18.6%; 2000-2010: 8.2%
Seattle 1990-2000: 9.1%; 2000-2010: 8.0%
Portland 1990-2000: 21%; 2000-2010: 10.3%

Without a more in-depth survey of the people, no one can saw for sure transit was even a top 10 draw. While it appears that Indy is a loser, I also should point out that I don’t know if any of the above municipalities annexed any land between census counts. I think a bigger part of the picture would also be to look at the suburbs of these cities. If transit is a big draw, then it would make sense that over two decades, many suburban folks would have made the move back to the city, especially with higher commute prices. What are the suburbs of Denver, Seattle, and Portland? If they grew, was there a reason (population, airport expansion, transit expansion)?

When you factor in Carmel, you get these numbers:
1990-2000: 48.7%; 2000-2010: 109.9% (My guess is that at least part of this huge spike is due to the annexation of the western portion of Clay township?)

Look at Fishers:
1990-2000: 403.9%; 2000-2010: 103%

Greenwood:
1990-2000: 37.2%; 2000-2010: 38.2%

My guess is that these numbers can’t be explained by shear births from current residents, or just annexations. Clearly people have moved to the metro area. However, I would think most people, especially those who can afford to move to more costly suburban areas, likely did their homework. I would say that for those who moved to this area, transit clearly didn’t rank as a very important asset. This should be studied, because I would bet our low cost of living likely was given a higher consideration than transit for most everyone who moved to this area. To keep that low cost of living, people are going to demand that if they have to spend an extra $100/month in taxes for mass transit, they had best break-in in terms of somehow saving $100/month due to the mass transit.

I don’t think people see that much savings with mass transit. We are a spread out metro area, and most metro residents will still be driving to get to a station. Denver and Seattle are landlocked by water and mountains. Portland is roughly 90% white and has historically had a very high white population, thus they never suffered in decades past from “White flight.”

The problem with the Indy Connect plan is the rail. To act like the rail is not a big deal because it is 10 years out is silly. The rail is half the estimated cost, and we all know what happens with those estimates (they are usually off, on the low end, meaning the final tab is usually much higher). There is a reason the guy pushing the bill wanted the full funding restored. Funny, because transit types seem to claim ‘If we build it, they will use it!’ Well, if that is true, Fishers, Carmel, etc. need to take money from their highway and road fund and put it towards mass transit.

I also personally like referendums, and it is laughable to say people are too stupid to vote on billion dollar projects. So it is OK to let these “idiots” vote to people who will turn around and make decisions for us? What I would ask for are clear cut referendum questions: Would you be willing to pay x% more in taxes for mass transit that would include expanded bus service and a fixed rail line? Below would be a chart will yearly wages (rounded to multiples of $10,000) and how much a person would be paying out yearly. Make it clear.

In any event, the transit modes outlined in the plan are not the issue. Even a bus-only plan needs substantial new tax revenue to become a reality. The issue in the Legislature was never whether buses or rail made more sense, but rather that representatives from outside Indianapolis and Central Indiana were dead-set against giving the local people of the area the rights to vote on whether or not they wished to raise income taxes to fund public transit.

It could have been a plan for horse drawn buggies, and it still would not have passed the General Assembly because the current membership clings to dogma and takes the position that any increased funding for a government service is bad and that even giving people the right to vote on a tax increase is the equivalent of voting directly for a tax increase, which is the worse possible thing according to their political ideology.

Now how about a bus system that run stops every 20 minutes instead of every hour as it stands now. This would be way more beneficial for the average city dweller that would like to use public transportation. YES I have been to Frisco, Philly, Chicago and if you talk to the people that live in the city they use the bus more then the rail systems. Lastly Indianapolis comes no where close to the traffic problems any of these cities experience. Yes light rail is cool but I would more inclined to see high speed rail built between Bloomington and Indy, Lafayette and Indy, Chicago and Indy with a stop in Lafayette. Makes a lot more economic sense.

Absolutely. Full home-rule regarding taxation and budgets is needed by Indianapolis-Marion County.

But in today’s climate, the referendum is probably the only practical solution, because NO Republican legislator wants to get caught voting for a “tax increase” bill.

As to the question of transit, Indianapolis has a good chunk of a delegation. And even more if you expand that to all of central Indiana/donut counties.

And if central Indiana wants something, the vessel for that needs to be Luke Kennley (Senator Appropriations Chair, Noblesville), Brian Bosma (House Speaker), or people who can get on their good side. And it probably needs Democratic support as well. And it needs to be in some sort of omnibus type bill that includes something for non-central Indiana so that those people will vote in favor of it.

That all being said, if I was Dictator of the Entire World, I’d write out this referendum process. I really hate general voting referendums on these billion dollar, complicated projects that will require long term funding. Because frankly, most people are idiots.

If I had it my way, I’d have the legislature empower the various central Indiana counties and towns on if they want to participate in this via their city or town councils and grant them the power to expand the COIT to include the funding for this. Those that do can include a provision on making a Central Indiana Transit Task Force or whatever so they can all work together. This allows the communities rather than the state to make the case for transit, and honestly, I think it’s easier to get a city-councilor to amend something on your behalf than it is for a state legislature.