INDIANAPOLIS — The IndyGo Foundation was recently awarded $384,594 in grant funding from IU Health’s Community Impact Investment Fund (CIIF) to provide essential infrastructure improvements on Indianapolis’ Eastside and free and reduced-cost access to public transportation. IndyGo’s Foundation will receive the funds over a two-year period.
Funds will go toward helping to upgrade approximately 15 IndyGo bus stops to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and contributing to the IndyGo Foundation’s Mobility Access Fund (MAF).
Bus stop upgrades include adding sidewalk connections, boarding areas and curb ramps that will connect the stops to local streets or driveways. Shelters and/or benches could also be added to some bus stops for added rider comfort.
Currently, many Near Eastside residents have trouble accessing transportation due to lack of quality connectivity infrastructure. The new, ADA-compliant bus stops will increase access to services and locations that influence health outcomes and will make it safe for all riders to access IndyGo’s critical services.
“We are incredibly grateful to IU Health for their support to address this critical community need for safe and equitable access to public transportation,” IndyGo Foundation Board Chair Lacey Everett said. “I also applaud the IndyGo Foundation staff for their creativity and collaboration in creating this initiative to improve connectivity, quality of life and overall health for thousands of residents on the Near Eastside.”
“Transportation access for our community is critical, especially for those who rely on public transit options to and from work, healthcare appointments and other daily tasks,” said Adairius Gardner, Director of Government Affairs, IU Health. “By providing the needed upgrades, these stops will allow riders to wait safely for buses and help those without financial means gain access to valuable transportation.”
The $200 million CIIF was established by IU Health in 2018 and is administered by the IU Health Foundation. The fund supports non-profit organizations to address key social and environmental factors that heavily affect people’s health outcomes. The foundation awards yearly grants from earnings on the fund’s invested capital.
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