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IndyGo Red Line bus at a station with passengers waiting to board, surrounded by trees and residential houses.IndyGo Red Line bus at a station with passengers waiting to board, surrounded by trees and residential houses.

Bus rapid transit in Indianapolis

We helped IndyGo design one of America’s first all-electric bus rapid transit systems, improving convenience and reliability for riders.

Client

Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Connect with an expert

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Tim Sorenson PE
Transit & Urban Mobility Practice Leader

Corridor serves 5,000 residents with electric buses

We partnered with the Indianapolis Public Transit Corporation (IndyGo) to deliver Indiana’s first all-electric bus rapid transit (BRT) system along a 13.1-mile corridor serving 5,000 residents and 50,000 jobs. We guided the project from start to finish, including preliminary engineering, completing documentation for the National Environmental Policy Act, traffic modeling and final design. We also wrote a grant, securing $75 million in federal funds for construction.

Improved rider experience 

We partnered with IndyGo to deliver Indiana’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system, improving service along a 13.1-mile corridor that connects residents to key destinations, supporting 5,000 residents and 50,000 jobs.

Capacity expansion and economic growth 

The Red Line was designed to expand transit capacity and drive economic growth along the corridor, while ensuring room for future growth.

Sustainable and innovative design 

This project introduced one of the nation’s first all-electric BRT fleets, reducing emissions and noise while setting a new standard for clean, modern transit. More than half the route uses dedicated lanes to keep buses out of traffic and reduce congestion.

Comprehensive delivery and funding strategy 

Our team led NEPA documentation, preliminary engineering, traffic modeling and final design, while securing $75M in federal funding through a successful grant application. 

As the first of several major BRT lines IndyGo has planned—the others including the Blue and Purple lines—the Red Line was delivered under IndyGo’s transit plan. The Red Line will be the core of the corridor, supporting a full BRT network in Indianapolis. The city wanted the project to expand the reach of the transit system and boost economic growth along the route, while still leaving room for future expansion. The community was looking for a creative solution to strengthen transit and provide more frequent, reliable service. The Red Line, which opened in September 2019, represents a smart public transportation solution that will improve mobility standards for Indi­anapo­lis, providing efficient service to more than 50,000 residents within walking distance of the BRT’s 28 planned stations and encouraging transit-focused growth on the corridor. With these improvements, Indianapolis is achieving its vision, providing high-quality transit service that moves people better. 

Curious to learn more?

Connect with an expert to find out how we delivered this project.

Sorenson_Tim_2021.jpg

Tim Sorenson

Transit & Urban Mobility Practice Leader

Tim has spent more than 30 years creating sustainable, community-focused transportation solutions integrating mobility, infrastructure, and the environment.

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