Pence signs central Indiana transit bill

Pence said in a statement it was time for Indiana’s capital to have a mass transit system and, despite his reservations about the sustainability of a transit system, he believed the decision to have one should be up to individual communities.

The bill allows for six Indiana counties, including Madison and Delaware counties, to set up a mass transit system if the respective voters approve of it. Madison County Council would have to place the item on the ballot in November and voters could decide if they wanted a transit system and how much they would be willing to pay for it. The cost of the system would be paid for with fare prices, local tax increases and donations from business corporations.

State Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, said he was glad the governor signed the bill and called it a step in the right direction.

“I think this is a positive thing for Indiana,” Lanane said. “It provides a framework where a county can come to its own decision on what is best for them.”

He said he didn’t know if the bill would pass in Madison County but noted there are a lot of people a good transit system would help out.

“The elderly, people with low incomes, people without a car. They could all benefit from a mass transit system,” Lanane said.

The Mass Transit bill was very controversial during the 2014 legislative session. Lawmakers couldn’t agree on whether light rail should be included as an option or whether businesses should have to bear some of the financial cost as well. When it was first introduced, the bill included a light rail option and a 10 percent tax on large businesses.

Both of those provisions were ultimately taken out, which led to Pence approving the bill. Lawmakers deemed light rail too expensive of a venture to even be discussed and thought an incentive-based program would be better for businesses than an outright tax.

Pence said the elimination of those two items and his belief that local people make the best decisions for their communities led to him signing the bill.

“I am a firm believer in local control and the collective wisdom of the people of Indiana,” Pence said. “Decisions on economic development and quality of life are best made at the local level.”

Lanane said from the beginning of the session he was in favor of the light rail option, which he thought could work well in Madison County. He was disappointed it didn’t make it in the final version, but said the door was still open for further discussion.

“I think we can continue to look at this and study it and maybe come back in a few years with a better idea for a rail system,” Lanane said.