Is IndyGo an unknown campus resource?
The Indianapolis public bus service, IndyGo, intends to add more services with a proposed $65 million budget, an $8.3 million increase without raising fares, which could make it desirable for campus commuters. The service has seen increased ridership, leading to a record 922,336 rides in August, according to IndyGo.net.
Sophomore undecided major Anastasia Martin said that this is due in part to the free rides IndyGo offered during the week of Super Bowl XLVI.
Martin is a frequent rider who uses IndyGo to get to the University of Indianapolis every weekday. Martin said that she has been using the bus since she was five years old.
“If we [Martin’s family] need to go see somebody, if we need to go to the library, we ride the bus,” Martin said.
Under the proposed budget, IndyGo would add one new route. It also would increase hours and add Saturdays for Route 22, which has stops at the campus on Hanna Avenue. The route travels north through Fountain Square to downtown and south to Greenwood Park Mall.
A recent informal survey by The Reflector showed 90 percent of the campus community never uses IndyGo, and 20 percent had never even heard of it.
“The signs are everywhere, the shelters are everywhere, so it baffles me when people don’t know it exists,” Martin said.
Martin said that IndyGo is far from perfect and advised caution at night. However, she said that if you know what you are doing it is easy to use.
The larger budget could impact Indianapolis residents’ pocketbooks because IndyGo.net lists federal assistance, state sales tax, funds from Marion County property taxes and passenger fares among its main revenue sources.
The IndyGo Board approved the 2013 budget on Sept. 27 and held a public meeting about it on Oct. 1. The Indianapolis City-County Council municipal corporations committee will vote on Oct. 15 to approve, decline or amend the budget.
“I think the more routes and the more times would be extremely helpful,” Martin said. “Because in my opinion, right now, they are extremely limited.”
