INDIANAPOLIS — RTV6 has heard the complaints and concerns about Red Line construction, changes to traffic, and bus lanes for people who live near the future route. This time, RTV6 hopped on an IndyGo bus to find out what future red line riders think about the project.
"The bus affects me as a person who rides it and other people that ride it," Darianna Rusah, who has been riding IndyGo buses for a few years, said. "Everybody's always gonna have something negative to say but I mean if you're not riding the bus then it doesn't really affect you."
RTV6 rode Bus 39 North along Meridian Street up to 38th Street and over to College Avenue. The newsroom talked to riders who take this trip daily, a router that will soon belong to the Red Line.
"I think it might be a good thing," Rusah said. "When you're on the bus, it's kind of a hit or miss thing. Either you miss it or you make it."
Red Line buses are planned to hit stops every ten minutes.
"Buses typically run like 30 minutes to like 15 to 45 minutes. You have to wait, so I think that will be a nice improvement," Rusah said.
Then RTV6 jumped onto Bus 17. The Red Line will soon cover Bus 17's route on College Avenue Between 38th Street and 66th Street.
"I've been riding it for almost a year now - I go to school downtown," Michael McKenzie said. He is looking forward to a faster bus service. "That sounds good as long as I can get on the bus around the same stop."
A spokesman from Red Line told RTV6 the construction of the project has improved sidewalks, traffic signals, and storm sewers. They estimate the value of those improvements at over $17 million.
"As long as I have a safe place where I can get on and off the bus then that's what matters," Rusah said. "It affects the people that are getting on and off the bus that have to wait in the rain in the snow in the cold."
A new time frame has been given for the completion of IndyGo's Red Line Project. The rapid transit line will possibly be ready for riders by Labor Day, once construction is done at the end of July.
