BY CHARLEE BEASOR
BROWNSBURG — The town council here recently heard a presentation on what could be the first mass transit system that would run between Hendricks and Marion counties.
Express Bus, which would bring patrons from Hendricks County to Marion County at rush hour times, was presented by Ehren T. Bingaman, executive director of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA).
“In partnership with IndyGo, it would be a point A to point B (system), would run a loop in downtown Indianapolis,” Bingaman said. “It would be a park and ride location at IN-267 and Dan Jones Road in Avon, which is a pretty central location.”
Bingaman told the council that 80 percent of the bus system is federally funded, with the group asking for 20 percent from the municipalities of Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, Danville, and Hendricks County.
“It’s a pilot project,” he said. “It would be a two-year program and we’re just asking for a 20 percent local commitment. We ask for a local match at the end of the year, and we’ll attempt to cover the 20 percent with fares we collect.”
He said if the county and towns were to split the 20 percent five ways, the maximum each entity would have to pay would be $16,362 — if the cost wasn’t covered by fares. The amount of money would vary in lower amounts, depending on the coverage. And if the fares covered the cost, none of the entities would have to pay.
Bingaman said the Express Bus has already been implemented in Carmel and Fishers, and in Johnson County.
“In Carmel and Fishers it has been very successful,” he said. “We propose to do it because it works. Neither community has had to pay yet.”
Though Matt Bowles, vice president of the Brownsburg Town Council, came out in support of the proposal during the presentation, member Bill Guarnery had some worries and questions.
“We’d be committing to a large amount of money,” Guarnery said. “How do we know (how many people ride)? Has there been a study done?”
Bingaman said they collect rider data and track where riders are coming from. He said for it to break even, 57 to 58 passengers a day would need to ride round trip.
Guarnery also questioned why the park and ride destination was in Avon and said he didn’t know how many Brownsburg residents would drive there to take a bus, particularly if they need their vehicles to travel during the work day.
Bingaman said he plans to use the Express Bus, but knows he won’t be able to ride every day.
“Getting down to Avon is a fair point,” he said. “Most (residents) won’t have regular mobility to do it every day.”
Bowles said they should look at what’s already been done in Carmel and Fishers.
“No community has failed yet,” he said. “No community has had to pay. We’re creating a triangle of economic activity. We stand a greater chance of having that ability, of having mass transit in Hendricks County. The risk is relatively low in my opinion.”
Upon Guarnery’s motion, the council decided to have Town Manager Jim Waggoner draft a letter of support and a resolution for a later town council meeting.
Brownsburg is the last county entity to approve and agree to the bus system, should they vote to approve the resolution.
The Leadership Hendricks County class has also been a large part of getting the Express Bus system into Hendricks County.
Jon Bennett is a class member and said they began in February, when the class decided transportation would be their project focus.
“We picked transportation and first looked at the Ronald Reagan Parkway continuation and we found out in January about Express Bus, and that really kind of excited us,” Bennett said. “The $16,362 is if nobody rides it.”
Bingaman said their goal would be to get started with the Express Bus system by Oct. 1, at the latest. He said they plan to educate and inform citizens of how to ride the bus, the cost to ride, and when to catch it in the next few months.
The next town council meeting is 7 p.m. July 9 at the Brownsburg Town Hall, 61 N. Green St.
charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com
