IndyGo announces Red Line enhancements

March 25, 2022
These upgrades will provide additional long-term stability and protect the significant investment made in the system’s infrastructure.

Significant improvements are coming to IndyGo’s Red Line with the agency planning to add rub rails to station platforms, in addition to performing maintenance on pavement along the dedicated bus lanes and station bus pads.

These upgrades will provide additional long-term stability and protect the significant investment made in the system’s infrastructure. Conducting this work will require some short-term road closures and detours around construction areas.

“Indianapolis is no stranger to the challenges of maintaining roadway pavement. The weight of 60-foot electric buses running repeatedly over the same routes seven days a week means an even greater stress on dedicated bus lanes,” said Jennifer Pyrz, vice president of infrastructure, strategy and innovation. “That wear and tear creates the need for maintenance and repairs.”

While filling potholes is a regular part of maintenance for all public works agencies, IndyGo will take advantage of this opportunity to conduct more extensive repairs and apply lessons learned from Purple Line design. IndyGo will conduct full-depth patching in areas where the bus lanes are showing signs of pavement damage and will not only repair any cracks in bus pads but add reinforcement at the same time to strengthen and prolong their lives.

IndyGo will also install rub rail at all bus rapid transit station platforms, including on the upcoming Purple and Blue Lines, as those are constructed. This material is designed so bus tires can rub against it as they approach the station, which provides the operator with a guide for pulling as close as possible to the platform without damaging the side of the bus. This will also give operators a better tool for achieving ADA-compliant boarding.

This work is expected to begin April 2022.

Future upgrades on the Red Line will include installing accessible pedestrian signals at many of the stations. These signals communicate WALK and DON’T WALK information to pedestrians audibly. These additions are part of IndyGo’s commitment to make service more accessible to everyone and will happen later this year as a separate project.