Johnson County commuters closer to express bus service to downtown

By SARAH MICHALOS, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer

Johnson County residents will be able to park their vehicles and hop on a bus to downtown Indy as soon as a large enough parking lot is found.

IndyGo employees are working with Greenwood officials to find a place in the city where commuters could park for free, IndyGo spokeswoman Ronetta Spalding said.

She said a contract between IndyGo and the city is in an early phase and wouldn't say what lots were being considered or when the service is expected to start.

"We need to make sure that Johnson County is on board and that we will have a lot for pickup, but we're not at a stage where we're ready to reveal anything," she said.

IndyGo has received a $4.5 million Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality federal grant, which provides enough funds for three express routes. The grant pays for 80 percent of the first year of service. The express routes provide nonstop service from a suburban community to downtown Indianapolis.

The first two routes were set up in Carmel and Fishers, and those communities agreed to pick up the remaining 20 percent of the cost. Passenger fares offset part of the local contribution.

About 100 people a day ride from Carmel, and about 200 ride from Fishers.

Spalding wouldn't say what the estimated cost of the route would be for Greenwood.

Earlier this year, the Greenwood City Council set aside $70,000 to pay for the IndyGo route and other expenses.

Council member Ron Deer, an advocate of the route, said at a recent council meeting that he'll appear before the Franklin City Council and Johnson County Council soon to discuss the route.

Greenwood city attorney Shawna Koons-Davis said a contract between IndyGo and the city is being negotiated, but she wouldn't comment on whether Greenwood is paying for the remaining 20 percent not covered by the federal grant.

The service, called IndyGo Commuter Express, would cost $2 a trip. A ride from Greenwood to downtown on Interstate 65 would take about 25 minutes. The bus would make six stops in downtown.

Pickup times at the Greenwood lot most likely would be from 6 to 9 a.m., and return times would be 4 to 7 p.m.