INDIANAPOLIS — WSP joined the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation on Oct. 18 to celebrate the grand opening of IndyGo’s Purple Line bus rapid transit (BRT) service.
The new route runs 15.2 miles from downtown Indianapolis to Lawrence, a suburb located northeast of the city, and features 31 BRT stations, including at the Indiana State Fairgrounds where the ribbon cutting occurred.
WSP, a leading engineering, environment and professional services firm, led the alternatives analysis, environmental planning, roadway and station design, as well as design support throughout construction and has worked hand in hand with IndyGo since planning began nearly a decade ago.
“The Purple Line represents a major step by IndyGo to deliver on the promise made in the Marion County Transit Plan to allow residents to reach more places, connect the workforce to jobs, and serve those who need transit most,” said Will Tolbert, PE, vice president of traffic engineering at WSP and project manager for the Purple Line project, who attended the ceremony. “Whether you are a transit user or not, you will benefit from this major infrastructure investment in your neighborhood, with improvements to safety, roadway drainage, pedestrian and bicycle mobility, and a brand-new roadway surface.”
The IndyGo Purple Line streamlines and enhances the city’s transit service, replacing portions of two previous local bus routes. It traverses several neighborhoods, past major employers, cultural institutions, and healthcare and educational facilities with fast, frequent and reliable service. According to IndyGo, 58,470 residents and 134,603 jobs are located within walking distance of the Purple Line.
“To say the Purple Line is simply ‘important’ is an understatement,” said Jennifer Pyrz, IndyGo President and CEO, at the ceremony. “It represents progress, access, equity and opportunity. Indianapolis has made the decision to invest in transit because we believe in our potential. We know that our city shines when the spotlight is upon us.”
Special guests and speakers at the event included Federal Transit Administration Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Lawrence Mayor Deb Whitfield.
Between the Carson Transit Center and 38th Street, the Purple Line will share a dozen stations with the IndyGo Red Line, doubling bus frequency for commuters on the Capitol Avenue and Meridian Street corridors. From the Park Avenue Station eastward, it will serve 38th Street before turning north on Post Road to terminate in the heart of the Fort Harrison redevelopment in Lawrence.
The project features major infrastructure improvements, including nearly 10 miles of sidewalks, more than 350 ADA-approved curb ramps, new street reconstruction, a multi-use path and storm sewer separation.
“The sidewalk infrastructure was a key safety improvement for the areas adjacent to the Purple Line,” Tolbert said. “The full corridor now has sidewalk connectivity along 38th Street where we either repaired existing sidewalk or installed brand new sidewalk. It also includes a three-mile multi-use path that connects to the Indianapolis Greenways system for bikes and pedestrians.”
The zero emission, 60-foot articulated buses used on the route are fully electric, can reach increased ranges with their inductive charging capabilities and integrate seamlessly with IndyGo’s Red Line BRT. Doors open on both sides of Purple Line buses to allow for either left-side or right-side boarding. Buses provide onboard bicycle storage instead of bike racks on the front of the bus, allowing cyclists to easily roll on and off using level boarding platforms.
Early in the planning stages, WSP also provided the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization with an alternatives analysis, which resulted in the locally preferred and approved plan for the Purple Line. WSP also led the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study, which was approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and also worked with IndyGo to apply for and secure a Small Starts Grant for the project from FTA through its Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.
“It has been a very smooth construction process considering the complexity of the dense urban corridor that it is navigating,” Tolbert said. “IndyGo did an outstanding job with their construction management and outreach team of communicating to businesses and working with stakeholders along the corridor.”
The Purple Line is part of IndyGo’s future service plan, the 2027 Transit Network, shifting from a largely coverage-oriented system to a system focused on generating more ridership. When complete, BRT will be the backbone of the IndyGo network, with more frequent service, longer service span, and higher-quality passenger amenities.
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP. As one of the largest professional services firms in the world, WSP exists to future-proof our cities and our environment. It provides strategic advisory, engineering and design services to clients seeking sustainable solutions in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water and mining sectors. With approximately 19,000 employees in 300 offices across the U.S., WSP’s trusted professionals are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities it serves through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion. wsp.com
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