Comments on Advance Indiana™: Scales: Proposed Red Line Bus Rapid Transit Favors "Choice Over Need"

Anon 8:26 You might be correct until the city outl...

2016-03-25T13:17:27.756-05:00

Anon 8:26 You might be correct until the city outlawed all forms of building that might be conducive to walking or shared transit of some kind. Instead they mandated the only way our city will be built is to facilitate and promote the use of the private automobile.

The corruptly proposed view will have College Ave ...

2016-03-25T10:45:56.069-05:00

The corruptly proposed view will have College Ave residents & business owners staring at an ill-considered, poorly designed, inorganic platform; vs. the neighborhood THEY INVESTED IN. There is no credible design guide known as "Soviet Style."

"Long ago the great Styring proposed to end t...

2016-03-25T08:26:24.311-05:00

"Long ago the great Styring proposed to end the taxi cab farce in Indianapolis by allowing competition such as exists in Asia with jitneys and other private sector responses to consumer needs. Decades later we get Uber. Problems solved at no public expense? No. There is some misplaced concern for those who are not productive enough to be consumers. So, a billion dollars down the drain is going to be of some service to them? That would be the view of Colleen Fanning who is all for expanding mass transit....but, so was the other person, Kip Tew. The disease here is that elected sorts expect to "do something"(anything) instead of being careful stewards and prudent ones. Jitneys are still a good idea as there never was any good reason for having governments involved in people moving. Back in the day before federal money flowed like taxpayer blood a community might have two or three competing bus lines. Each of them had routes, each paid taxes instead of consuming them, none were a part of corruption/local government."

Councilor Scales gives voice to credible planning;...

2016-03-24T20:22:57.693-05:00

Councilor Scales gives voice to credible planning; not the classist, commission scheduled pocket lining of public treasury pirates. The Red Lie is a deliberate misappropriation of public funding; a perversion of purpose.

And that's my complaint, anon. 12:35. The subu...

2016-03-24T13:44:42.786-05:00

And that's my complaint, anon. 12:35. The suburban counties are just sitting back and waiting to see how much Marion County taxes its residents to build a system that can't be reversed once the wheels are set in motion. The state will then probably award grants to complete the suburban portion of it, which won't be nearly as imposing as the dedicated bus lanes planned for Marion County will be because the suburban counties love their automobiles and don't want their main thoroughfares gridlocked like what's planned inside Indianapolis.

Christine outlines how Indy Connect should be fash...

2016-03-24T12:35:42.029-05:00

Christine outlines how Indy Connect should be fashioned, however the Marion County phase 1 plan has been designed to accommodate a larger regional strategy. As envisioned by the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, and structured through State legislation, the stated goal of CIRTA "is to connect Indianapolis with the suburban, rural communities of Marion, Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Hendricks, Boone, Delaware, and Madison counties".

In other words,IndyGo, MPO, and CIRTA plans were not designed with an absolute concern for Marion County urban dwellers but overriding consideration was given to increasing the economic wellbeing of entities outside the county. If the perceived project covers such a large portion of the state, it should be financed at a state level rather than having Marion County taxpayers fund a system not designed to wholly benefit the community.

Of course, Councilor Scales is correct about the m...

2016-03-24T12:31:17.039-05:00

Of course, Councilor Scales is correct about the motivation for Red Line--not those who depend on public transportation, but connected developers who see money making potential in Meridian Kessler, Forest Hills, Arden, Broad Ripple, etc..

The idea behind Red Line is to appeal to Millennials, but they're growing up now, getting married establishing committed relationships, and they're buying homes instead of renting. As Councilor Scales points out, they can afford a car. Millennials are aging out of the "urbanism" fad that's on it's way out--check out the writings of Aaron Renn.

Another fad that developers missed out on is the popularity of Broad Ripple. Today's Indy Star has a piece that points out that Fountain Square has stolen Broad Ripple's crown for the top music venue. Broad Ripple is far from done for, but crowds nowadays are smaller and older.

A day late, a dollar short, late to the party. The band has packed up and gone home. Elvis has left the building. Sorry, developers, but you missed the boat.

Excellent points by Christine Scales. It is so ref...

2016-03-24T11:13:22.532-05:00

Excellent points by Christine Scales. It is so refreshing to hear there is an adult in the room that understands what is best for this city. Phase 1 Redline in its current form is a fraud to tax payers and serves no benefit to the citizens who really need the services the Redline is supposed to provide. The only reason the proponents of the Redline want the line to run from downtown to Broad Ripple is for the potential cash grab on transforming College Ave from 38th Street, Meridian Kessler to Broad Ripple into the same model you see at Mass Avenue. Long term planning shares the same high rise developments and multi use businesses creating density you see happening in downtown Indianapolis today. That is not the environment those of us who live in this area want. We like the feel of our current neighborhood and the ability drive and park where we want to without worrying about parking on a side street in front of someone's home which will happen once the Redline chokes down College Ave. Bankers and developers seem to benefit the most using this model while those who need the services the most continue to be looked over. Voters see what is happening and will continue to make changes at the voting booth.

"at the back of the line, on the back of the ...

2016-03-24T10:53:33.230-05:00

"at the back of the line, on the back of the bus"

Why don't you race bait a little more.

Follow the money and given the city's propensi...

2016-03-24T09:22:07.906-05:00

Follow the money and given the city's propensity for using Federal grant monies and then not complying with the rules for the particular grants, you will find that the measures can be defeated by complaining to the Federal agencies supplying the money regarding inappropriate use of grant money. I can provide you with numerous examples where this has occurred in the past in Marion County. And, in each case, millions were involved.

This is a huge fraud being perpetrated on the nume...

2016-03-24T07:28:24.320-05:00

This is a huge fraud being perpetrated on the numerous neighborhood organizations representing poor areas that supported mass transit as it was originally sold. These organisations such as NESCO must stand up and fight this because they were double crossed and lied to. Not one dime will be used to help their neighborhood that desperately are in need of help.

I applaud Councilor Scales for writing this piece....

2016-03-24T06:44:03.926-05:00

I applaud Councilor Scales for writing this piece. The Red Line as proposed is ill-conceived and will likely underperform if not fail outright. The alignment is wrong. The choice of operating agency is wrong. The driving forces behind the proposal are wrong. It is about the city's image and marketing and rewarding favored developers more than it is about transit. This is a deeply flawed approach.

What would it look like if it was about transit? Well, for one thing it would be on Keystone instead of College. That's what the Twin Cities did with the Green Line, choosing an alignment on University Avenue (Keystone's identical twin) as opposed to Summit or Grand Avenues. The line has succeeded. In fact, not only does it serve it's primary purpose (transit) but also its secondary purpose (city building). But then again the Twin Cities is comfortable in its own skin in a way Indianapolis has never been.

That said, transit is imperative. Urban density is increasing around the globe and if you wait too long you will be behind the eight ball. Indy needs transit, maybe not today but soon. Bikes are an important part of the mix. Cities in Europe have shown us what it might look like. It would free up billions of development dollars and reduce congestion. This is a must since Indiana taxpayers refuse to adequately fund roads and yes I know that gas tax dollars are being siphoned away but they are being siphoned away by the people you elect. There's a reason cities as disparate as San Francisco, New York, Denver and Austin are investing in alternative and active transportation. It's not trendy as much as it is a practical solution to a problem.

Back to the Red Line. It should be built, but if it's going to be built, it should be built right and for the right reasons. I haven't seen that yet, and I applaud Councilor Scales for having the courage to stand up to those in our city who use projects like this as well as the sincere hopes of proponents in the public to pad their own nests.

We need more police and a bigger jail far more tha...

2016-03-24T04:51:16.642-05:00

We need more police and a bigger jail far more than a senseless rapid transit line. This is NOT Chicago. People in Indianapolis DO NOT WANT a rapid transit. They enjoy the freedom of using a car and not being on a limited schedule.

Both the Republican and Democrat Parties [which ar...

2016-03-24T04:34:40.232-05:00

Both the Republican and Democrat Parties [which are actually one party working different sides of the aisles] no longer serve "the people" but instead "the cronies" of the politicians and the dastardly attorneys who bastardize the law to serve those special interests. We have plenty of those bastardizing attorneys in the State House as well as in our City Halls.

In light of Councilor Scales' excellent points against this Red Line boondoggle, I am again reminded that it was the Indianapolis City County Councilors who allowed idiotic cricket fields, illegal Vision Fleet, the corrupt to-the-bone Blue Indy battery powered curb-side rental car business, Broad Ripple streets (and elsewhere in Marion County) clogged by silly bicycle lanes, fifty years of parking meter chains upon as-yet unborn Marion County residents, Indy Land Bank corruption, foolish support of goofy Litebox types, TIF extortion out the wazoo, [to name just several scams] AND IT'S ALL STILL THERE no matter how cogent or righteous the arguments against. NONE OF IT IS GOING AWAY. The same will be true of this Red Line scam.

The politicians blame these etched in stone scams remaining in place on "the people" for voter disconnect to the political process; anyone who enters the system with an eye toward change sees the political corruption up close and personal and understands this is a fake argument.

Good luck, Christine. I hope you are victorious. Anyone with just half a working brain knows this BRT is the latest in a line of BG/DB-type corruption on a massive scale. Just imagine the invoices to special interests with no end in sight this scam like BRT will generate. It's similar to the "war on terror"... the need for money and financial support (from the poor taxpayers) can be justified for decades on end.

And Ivy Tech is said to be considering hiring Greg Ballard as the head administrator? He's already turned downtown Indy into a congested zoo on behalf of the monied interests; Lord knows what harm the guy would wreak upon a community college struggling to improve its image.

wow she needs to run for mayor, Governor immediat...

2016-03-23T22:10:50.766-05:00

wow she needs to run for mayor, Governor immediately or as a lt.gov on a ticket 2016

I have always been impressed by her in many ways, but this is the most thought out beyond reasonable doubt public posting I have ever read her or anyone else.

This needs to be hand delivered to ever news outlet and neighborhood paper in the city,in the most needy areas and explained in the manner Mrs, Scales just did to us,

I will personally help hand deliver and explain the impact good and bad for these poor neighborhoods,,if they need a party ride go call Uber,,,

but make these routes a jobs driver and economic expansion project that will have immediate impact on several key areas of need,,,crime, unemployment,food,

And entertainment opportunities beyond nightly target shooting...

Mrs, Scales call me when you need the help John Connors 317-920-3675

I have no fear or hesitation to put my name and number on my comments

Ms. Scales, well done. TOD and the opportunities i...

2016-03-23T21:34:00.221-05:00

Ms. Scales, well done. TOD and the opportunities it brings to those in the development business are a big driver behind BRT. As with TIF spending, this mass transit proposal does not appear to be about helping lift those with the greatest need. As a resident of Meridian Kessler I've long wondered why the mid town tif spending has been north of 38th street. And the latest proposal near Kessler and College was the icing on the cake. How is a property that a developer offers $1.5 million per acre considered blighted and in need of a $7 million TIF subsidy? There is a shooting almost every day in this city, neighborhood streets look like a moonscape, and many streets are still without sidewalks. We just had an income tax increase in the name of public safety, I see no more police on the streets, where did the money go? And while many main streets were replaced under Rebuild Indy, those streets are already crumbling. I'm getting really tired of paying the highest taxes in central Indiana and getting the worst of services in return.

Thanks for publishing this, Gary. Christine Scale...

2016-03-23T20:44:37.397-05:00

Thanks for publishing this, Gary. Christine Scales has again done and shared the research that exposes yet another project that will stick the tax payers for a project that will benefit only those who support and promote it.