Indiana Once Again Considering Ban on Dedicated Transit Lanes

Indiana lawmakers heard testimony this week on a bill that would prohibit public transportation projects from including dedicated transit lanes, according to Indiana news outlet Fox 59. Senate Bill 52 was introduced in January for consideration in the 2024 legislative session, but efforts to pass similar legislation go back as far as 2022. According to the bill, the prohibition would only be through July 2025.

As previously reported by Fox 59, critics of the bill like State Senator Andrea Hunley say it is obviously part of a campaign against the IndyGo Blue Line in Indianapolis, “a project years in the making.” The 24.5-mile-long Blue Line, the third phase of IndyGo’s bus rapid transit system connecting Cumberland on the east with the Indianapolis International Airport on the west side of the city, has been delayed since May 2022 when the project estimate came in far above than expected. IndyGo currently has the Blue Line’s opening set for 2027.

After more than three hours of testimony, the Indiana House Committee on Roads and Transportation opted to hold the bill for next week, which opens the opportunity for the committee to debate amendments and potentially vote on the measure, writes Fox 59 reporter David Gay.

Objectors to the bill testified that dedicated transit lanes would result in more reliable bus service and more safety for people who walk along busy streets. Meanwhile, some business owners along the proposed Blue Line route were in favor of the measure, expressing concern that reducing the number of lanes on the streets in front of their locations would negatively impact their revenue and lower property values.