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IndyGo

IndyGo’s 2014 Budget Cycle

As a municipal corporation of Marion County, IndyGo is governed by a seven-member board of directors, which is comprised of three individuals appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis and four individuals appointed by the City-County Council. The IndyGo budget is subject to review and approval by both the IndyGo board of directors as well as the City County Council. The IndyGo board approval process begins with the introduction of the budget at the beginning of August. The 2014 budget will be introduced on Thursday, August 1 at 5 p.m. at IndyGo’s Administrative Offices located at 1501 W. Washington St. Accessible via Route 8 or Open Door. Following the introduction of the budget, IndyGo will host a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed 2014 budget on Thursday, August 15th at 5 p.m. at IndyGo’s Administrative Offices.

The final IndyGo board meeting in August is scheduled for Monday, August 26 at 5 p.m at IndyGo’s Administrative Offices. At this meeting, the board is expected to approve the 2014 budget. With IndyGo board approval, the budget moves to the City-County Council approval process. Several additional municipal corporations committee and full council meetings will address the proposed 2014 budget. Both the full council and its municipal corporations committee will conduct public hearings for the proposed 2014 budgets of municipal corporations (including IndyGo) and the City of Indianapolis. By mid-October, the council will have approved budgets citywide.

For more information about the IndyGo budget, a full list of meeting dates and budget documents, click here.

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Buses With a Different Look

This summer, you’ll see some “new” buses on the road. IndyGo has acquired several used buses from Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in order to retire the oldest IndyGo buses in the fleet. This is not the first time IndyGo has put COTA buses on the road in Indy. In late 2012, IndyGo added more than twenty used buses from Ohio and introduced them after the buses had been rebranded. Stripping the red, white and blue graphics and repainting with the standard IndyGo blue tops would have delayed retiring several of IndyGo 1997 and 1998 buses. IndyGo management made the decision to operate these newly acquired vehicles without repainting them in order to maintain a higher level of transit service. In early fall these red, white and blue buses will be rebranded to match the IndyGo fleet.

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Neighborhood Focus: Indy’s Northside

Live near 96th Street between Allisonville Rd. and Masters? Interested in ditching your car for your commute downtown? Why not work or read a book on your commute, save money on gas and parking and avoid the stresses of rush hour traffic?

IndyGo’s 96th St. Commuter Trips (link to Route 19 page) are ideal for those who live on the north side and work downtown. Trips depart from 96th St. to downtown twice in the morning and return from downtown to 96th St. in the afternoon! Route 19 also connects with three other major routes, 86 – 86th Street Crosstown, 17 – College and 26 – Keystone Crosstown which serve other major employment hubs in Indianapolis.

Check out the Route 19 to see if a 96th St. Commuter Trip works for you.

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Route 86

IndyGo’s Route 86 offers great access to one of our city’s busiest commercial corridors, 86th / 82nd Street. With service every 30 minutes 6 days a week between Community Hospital North and Traders Point, the 86th St. Crosstown route can connect you with shopping, healthcare and new employment options.

Seven IndyGo routes connect with the Route 86:

• 37 – Park 100 connects with 86 at Traders Point.

• 34 – MLK/Michigan Rd connects with 86 at Michigan and 86th.

• 28 – St. Vincent connects with 86 just north of St. Vincent Hospital on W. 86th St. and Harcourt.

• 18 – Nora connects with 86 at College and 86th in addition to Keystone at the Crossing.

• 26 – Keystone Crosstown connects with 86 at Keystone at the Crossing.

• 19 – Castleton connects with 86 at Castleton Square Mall and Community Hospital North.

• 4 – Ft. Harrison connects with 86 at Community Hospital North.

The new route 86 offers great access to housing, retail and healthcare on the north side. Visit our Fixed Routes page to download the route brochure!

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Community Events!

Indiana State Fair: August 2 – 18

It’s that time of year again – the Indiana State Fair begins Friday, August 2 and lasts through Sunday, August 18! This year, hop on IndyGo Route’s 39 or 4 to get to the Fairgrounds and save on gas and parking. With 15 minute weekday service, Route 39 offers convenient access to the Fair from downtown or the far east side.

Healthy food options: Did you know a jumbo turkey leg has more than 1100 calories? You’d have to walk 5.25 hours to burn that off! This year the Fair has great new healthy food options, so think twice before you delve into a basket of fried Snickers. Visit the Healthy Food Options page on the State Fair website for a list of items that are under 350 calories!

Earlier this month, IndyGo offered chances to win family 4-packs of tickets to the fair. More than 120 people entered and IndyGo awarded nearly 90 sets of 4. Watch upcoming issues of the IndyGo Insider e-newsletter, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and monitor the IndyGo website for more chances to win great perks!

St. Thomas Aquinas Annual SausageFest: August 16 – 17, 6 p.m. – Midnight

SausageFest is the annual St. Thomas Aquinas parish festival held the third Friday and Saturday of August each year. This fun event features local food and beverages, children’s activities including bounce houses, carnival games and face painting to name a few things.

On Saturday, August 16 from 6 – 9:30 p.m., IndyGo will be on site at the festival with an energy-efficient hybrid bus. Stop by to get an up close look, learn about IndyGo’s services and enter to win some great IndyGo swag.

St. Thomas is located at 46th and Illinois, accessible via Route 28. See more information on the Sausagefest Facebook Page.

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Indy Connect Public Open Houses

Indy Connect is holding another series of public meetings to specifically discuss the Red, Blue and Green Rapid Transit Line studies. Since the last round of public gatherings in March of this year, study teams have been working to develop preliminary recommendations of specific routes, station location and route features based on information gathered in public discussions and technical analysis.

The open houses begin Aug. 6 at the Artsgarden at Circle Center Mall and continue throughout the month with a final meeting on Aug. 22 at the United North Methodist Church. Indy Connect invites you to attend and help assess and finalize these recommendations! To view a full list of meeting dates and times, click here.

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Mobility Advisory Committee Accepting Applications

The Mobility Advisory Committee (MAC) is comprised of nine volunteers representing a diverse group of individuals with disabilities and organizations who serve them. The MAC meets quarterly to advise IndyGo on the provision of public transportation services for individuals with disabilities, and provide education to the general public about these transportation needs.

The MAC is seeking new members to serve on the committee. Learn more about the meeting schedule and application process to serve on this advisory committee.

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Back to School!

August 31, Summer Youth Pass expires. Other discounted fares are available for students.

IndyGo’s Summer Youth Pass will expire at the end of August, but other discounted fares are available for kids 18 and under in addition to students at participating colleges and universities.

Though IndyGo’s half fare program, all youth 18 and under are eligible for discounted fares. In order to redeem a half fare pass or pay the discounted fare in cash on board IndyGo buses, eligible passengers must present a K-12 (for students 18 and under) student ID or an IndyGo-issued half fare ID.

The S-Pass program equips college students with a 31-day pass for $30. The program is open to accredited Indianapolis colleges and universities. IndyGo does not sell directly to students. Visit your college administration offices to get your S-Pass.