INDIANAPOLIS — The debate over Senate Bill 52 has drawn many business owners and community members, some of whom are relieved to know the Blue Line project is still going forward.
Celebrations and merry toasts followed at several businesses along the proposed Blue Line route, including Kismetic Beer Company in the Historic East neighborhood on Washington Street.
“Having this lifeline all the way to the airport is going to be a huge deal for our city, and I think this is a huge step forward for Indianapolis,” said Nicole Oesch, owner of Kismetic Beer Company. So I'm really excited.”
IndiGo's Blue Line project is back on the table after a controversial bill in the Senate that could have killed the project failed. That's good news for several restaurant and bar owners who say they've been waiting for an efficient bus route between Cumberland and the airport.
“It would be great if people could come here and have a drink safely and patronize other businesses without having to drive,” Oesch added.
Andrea Homoya, founder and CEO of Ash & Elm Cider Co., echoed that sentiment.
“We sell alcohol, people drink while they're here, and having a way to get to and from our locations without having to personally drive is important to us. It’s something that I’m always concerned about,” Homoya said.
With Senate Bill 52, the project would not have been able to introduce dedicated lanes for public transit vehicles. IndiGo and city officials said they had reached an agreement to maintain two lanes of traffic “to the extent possible.”
“I didn't want that to be the reason why this whole project was turned down, because this project requires a lot more than just a dedicated bus route,” Homoya said.
Not all business owners along the line were in favor of the idea, as some expressed concerns about the impact of construction. Oesch said he believes it will all be worth it in the end.
“We're just looking at it long-term. This is going to be incredibly great for our city,” Esch said. “We can endure for a few months or whatever the construction looks like for the greater good.”
FOX59/CBS4 reached out to IndyGo for clarification on what the final plan for shared lanes would look like under the compromise plan. A spokesperson said they had no further comment beyond their initial statement and thanked the General Assembly and the community for their support in continuing the dialogue.
