U.S. DOT announces $75M grant for rapid bus project in Indianapolis

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $75 million grant agreement with the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The IndyGo Red Line Rapid Transit project will provide quick, reliable and convenient service to downtown Indianapolis.

“Residents and visitors in Indianapolis can now look forward to faster and more convenient transit service as they travel to work, school, and other destinations,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “FTA is committed to modernizing transit systems to improve safety and reliability for all riders.”

The project is a 13.1-mile bus rapid transit line that will connect the Indianapolis central business district with the Village of Broad Ripple to the north and the University of Indianapolis to the south. The BRT line will run through the densest part of the city and serve universities, hospitals, government offices, community services and a transit center that connects to bus routes. The project’s 7.7 miles of dedicated and semi-exclusive bus lanes and traffic signal priority at intersections will help improve transit speed and reliability in the corridor. The project also includes the purchase of 13 buses.

FTA has agreed to provide IndyGo with $75 million for the Red Line project through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. The CIG Program provides funding for major transit capital infrastructure investments nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for and receive program funds.

About FTA, DOT

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries. FTA also oversees safety measures and helps develop next-generation technology research.

Transit services supported by FTA span many groups and provide wide-ranging benefits. Since 1964, FTA has partnered with state and local governments to create and enhance public transportation systems, investing more than $12 billion annually to support and expand public rail, bus, trolley, ferry and other transit services. That investment has helped modernize public transportation and extended service into small cities and rural communities that previously lacked transit options.

An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), FTA is headed by an administrator appointed by the President of the United States. FTA is one of DOT’s 10 modes of transportation and is run by a headquarters in Washington, D.C. as well as 10 regional offices that assist transit agencies in all states and U.S. territories.