Irvington is my home. I love my community, and we deserve better than a four-lane race strip tearing through the heart of our community. We cannot continue to allow those who view our community as a drive-thru dictate the needs of those who live here, who overwhelmingly support this project. We need safer streets. We need more reliable public transportation. We need those who do not live in this city to stop acting as though they know our needs better than we do. The Blue Line is essential to the health of Irvington, and the well-being of this city.

I have three options when commuting downtown for work: I can drive and spend $11 per day on parking, I can bike and risk my life to speeding drivers, or I can take the bus for less than 1/4 the cost of parking alone. IndyGo has saved me hundreds of dollars this year alone, which is lifesaving as a young professional entering the workforce with little savings. More reliable, more frequent service will only benefit people like myself who need alternatives to driving.

IndyGo has been a wonderful service in my life. I generally bike to work every day, but on weeks like these, with temperatures below freezing, I take the bus. Ever since the Red Line opened, I've been within a couple of blocks of a station, and it's been extremely convenient to use if I need to head downtown or to Fountain Square. I've been trying to find a place to live on the east side, and the Blue Line would be similarly convenient for getting around Indy faster than by bike or local routes (sometimes).

Washington Street is one of the most dangerous streets in Indianapolis. The dedicated lane would help alleviate this by removing a lane of travel and (hopefully) slowing cars down. I know that IndyGo would be putting in additional measures to make Washington Street safer. Something that people who don't live in densely populated areas fail to understand is that there are more people around, and that there are houses and duplexes and apartments along these major roads/transit corridors. These people deserve to have a safe neighborhood street in front of their residence as much as someone living on a quieter street like 24th and New Jersey, or 9th and Tacoma, or Bosart and Nowland. IndyGo would be able to transform Washington Street into something that, while it may not be perfect, would be infinitely more desirable to live and walk on.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is finally upgrading Indianapolis streets with all the necessary infrastructure improvements required to be a competent 21st century city — enabling workers to get to and from jobs, schools, stores, etc. Necessary is an understatement. Without a significant investment in public transportation (with dedicated lanes) and adjoining infrastructure improvements along the routes, Indianapolis cannot be considered an equitable city for all its citizens. Safe streets, properly designed and maintained sidewalks (including snow removal), attractive and recognizable bus shelters, improved sewer drainage, improved street lighting, and safer crosswalks all make an area’s quality of life dramatically better.

I oppose Senate Bill 52 (and any other bill attempting to limit, prohibit, or otherwise damage Indianapolis public transportation). Not only has BRT already improved and enhanced our city, but IndyGo has maintained the legislative requirements levied upon it. This is deserving of support without the constant meddling of the Statehouse — beginning with the fact that Indianapolis voters voted “YES” to contributing additional taxes to make this a reality. Plans and studies have been completed, and votes have been cast. Yet, politicians attack and insert roadblocks in attempts to dismantle a worthy voter-approved cause, ad nauseam. Start there — the citizens of Indianapolis want this. Politicians should honor and recognize this and be good stewards of the city that is the absolute economic heartbeat of the entire State of Indiana. They also should get out of the way of needed progress! To do otherwise is a clear sign that Indiana is choosing a path that will not lead to future riches and prosperity.

I am a parent and advocate for my adult child who has a disability. Public transportation is absolutely necessary for him to access education, healthcare, employment and food. Public transportation keeps him connected to everyday necessities. It also keeps him connected to the things that bring dignity to his life, such as his church community, friends, shopping and leisure activities.

I was one of the majority of voters who voted for a tax increase in 2016 to help fund Bus Rapid Transit. At this point in time, with the Red Line completed and the Purple Line still under construction, and the Blue Line at 90% design, it would be completely asinine and wasteful to stop the progress by using Senate Bill 52 to stop designated bus lanes. Prohibiting dedicated bus lanes this late in the game is not good for anything.

Thirty seven percent of central Indiana households are living at or one emergency away from poverty. Public transportation is a lifeline for those families. Rapid transit is even more efficient for people to get to work, to the laundromat, grocery, etc. Some of us are so fortunate that we never have to imagine that life. But it doesn't mean our city doesn't deserve it. Another group of people served by transit are the people we attract here from other nearby cities, who expect a world-class city like Indianapolis to have mass transit. The people who make downtown thrive want mass transit so they don't have to worry about driving drunk or finding parking. BRT also brings much needed infrastructure to our city that we don't have the money for otherwise, and we desperately need it. BRT is a public utility, as essential as sewer and water. I fully support BRT!

Once again, the Eastside is disregarded when it comes to basic human needs, with its food deserts and lack of transportation and affordable housing. Senate Bill 52 is just another attack on the vulnerable who don’t have the advantages of vehicle transportation. In addition, this bill dismisses the increasingly dangerous conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists along East Washington Street and the death of a 7-year-old child. Permitting dedicated bus lanes for the Blue Line could help improve traffic calming and bring economic growth for the neglected Eastside.

More transportation is a critical need in the city and particularly on the Eastside. SAVI data gives the Far Eastside a walkability score of nine out of 100, meaning almost all errands require a car. I believe that two IndyGo bus lines currently cross the neighborhood. As a food pantry director, our pantry bears witness to how the lack of readily available transportation impacts an individual’s access to basic necessities and support resources. Bus passes are a constant request from our visitors. We support the Blue Line with added compensation for local businesses that may be negatively impacted by the construction.

I live in Irvington, and Washington Street is not safe right now. I have to cross Washington to take my daughter to preschool, and I frequently see drivers going 50 mph or more through a 25 mph school zone. Indy residents have the right to walk or bike in their neighborhood without the fear of being struck or killed by an aggressive driver. The Blue Line will provide traffic calming that will lead to drivers traveling at safer speeds, as well as improving air quality due to fewer emissions.

I know several Eastside residents who either cannot afford a car or spend a significant portion of their monthly budget on car-related expenses. These people deserve a safe, reliable and affordable option to get around the city without being forced to own a car. The Blue Line will provide that.

Dedicated bus lanes are an essential component of making the Blue Line efficient and reliable. One reason that IndyGo service is unreliable today is low frequency. If a bus only comes every 30 minutes and often arrives late, people can’t rely on it to get to and from work. Dedicated bus lanes will allow BRT buses to arrive every 15 minutes, helping people get where they need to go quickly and efficiently.

An additional benefit of dedicated bus lanes is that police, fire, and EMS vehicles are allowed to use the bus-only lane to get where they need to go and avoid being stuck in traffic. First responders and other emergency personnel deserve a system that allows them to improve their response times, and dedicated bus lanes will help with that.

Senate Bill 52 seeks to leave Washington street the way it is now, which is unsafe and unacceptable.

I fully support the continuation of the Blue Line project! Dedicated bus lanes improve transit reliability, which means the bus arrives at the same time at predictable intervals, regardless of the time of day. They provide enhanced safety through traffic calming to include things such as center bus lanes reducing vehicle collisions at intersections, which reduces crashes overall. They improve safety for all modes of transportation. They allow a dedicated lane for emergency vehicles to use.

The benefits of the Blue Line are that it will mean faster, more efficient transit along one of IndyGo’s highest ridership routes. More than $399 million in economic development is planned along the Blue Line corridor. Beyond transit, it’s a major infrastructure project that is badly needed.