Indianapolis' New BRT Stations and Buses Roll Out Soon; Here’s What They’re Like

Indygo's new Red Line will debut September 1, but some of its electric buses are already in service on Route 8. "Many riders have already ridden on the shiny new buses, tested the USB chargers and experienced a quiet ride," Kellie Hwang reports for the Indianapolis Star. When Red Line service launches, it will also include improvements to stations, including sheltered platforms with level boarding so strollers and wheel chairs can board and alight more easily. "At rapid transit stations, riders will tap or scan at validators on the platforms before boarding," Hwang writes.

Besides feeling different for riders, electric buses are also a change for drivers. To prepare for the new service and familiarize drivers with the new vehicles, Indygo has created a training programs. "Some of the stations are curbside, while others are in the center of the road where drivers dock at the stations on opposite side of the bus. It's a bit of an adjustment learning how to dock, and Cox said the training takes about four to eight hours," Hwang writes.