IndyGo

Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo)
	IndyGo logo
Company type	Municipal entity
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1975
Headquarters	Indianapolis, United States
Area served	Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding areas including Johnson County
Key people	Inez Evans (CEO)
Products	Fixed-route bus services, bus rapid transit, microtransit, paratransit
Website	www.indygo.net

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article IndyGo, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 7 August 2025

The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, operating under the name IndyGo, is a municipal entity serving the City of Indianapolis by providing fixed-route bus services, bus rapid transit, microtransit options, and paratransit operations.

Since its establishment in 1975, IndyGo has been responsible for managing the city's public bus network. In , it achieved an annual ridership totaling , with an average weekday usage of approximately as of .

History

IndyGo's foundation dates back to 1953 when Indianapolis transitioned from a streetcar system to bus-based routes. The city officially created the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation in 1975 to administer bus operations, initially branded as Metro Bus before adopting the IndyGo name in 1996. Efforts to partially privatize services during the 1990s were reversed due to public opposition, restoring full municipal control.

Since the 1970s, ridership has gradually decreased, leading to ongoing initiatives aimed at revitalizing transit usage. During the 1980s, express services were introduced targeting middle-income commuters but most of these routes were phased out by the early 2000s.

The downtown Blue Line circulator, launched in 2005, attracted significant ridership but ceased operations in 2007 after federal funding was withdrawn. The Red Line started service in late 2006, connecting Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis with downtown through frequent trips; it remained fare-free until 2009 and was discontinued following the opening of the Downtown Transit Center, with other routes absorbing its coverage area.

In 2007, IndyGo rolled out express routes operated by contractors utilizing ADA-compliant coaches to suburbs such as Fishers and Carmel in Hamilton County and Greenwood in Johnson County. These ICE Express Routes were terminated by 2010 after federal grants ended.

Also introduced in 2007, the Green Line offered express service between downtown and Indianapolis International Airport but was discontinued in 2012 due to grant expiration; currently, local Route 8 serves airport transit needs.

Marion County Transit Plan

Indy Connect represents a $1.2 billion effort to establish a comprehensive network of bus rapid transit corridors, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways. In 2017, the City-County Council approved a referendum allowing an increase in Marion County's income tax to finance IndyGo’s first significant expansion since its inception in 1975. Funding for systemwide enhancements comes from local taxes combined with federal grants and includes three BRT lines, battery-electric buses, improved sidewalks and shelters, as well as extended service hours including weekends.

Construction for the initial segment of the Red Line, spanning 14 miles from Broad Ripple Avenue to the University of Indianapolis, commenced in June 2018 and opened on September 1, 2019.

In February 2020, IndyGo canceled its order for five battery-electric buses designated for Route 39 due to reliability problems with BYD vehicles that failed contract criteria concerning range and charging infrastructure. The existing BYD buses were reassigned to Red Line operations, while a $7.5 million contract was awarded for acquiring thirteen diesel buses from Gillig for Route 39.

By March 2020, the Indiana General Assembly debated reducing IndyGo’s public funding by 10%, citing concerns over its failure to meet a legislative requirement to secure up to one-tenth of its budget from private sources. IndyGo CEO Inez Evans acknowledged delays in establishing a supporting foundation but cautioned that funding cuts could threaten ongoing transit development plans.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused postponement of comprehensive route modifications under the Marion County Transit Plan that aimed to shift from a hub-and-spoke model toward a grid system facilitating easier transfers.

In August 2020, IndyGo initiated a "bus stop balancing" program intended to eliminate or consolidate 524 underutilized stops while adding 45 new ones to enhance efficiency on high-demand routes.

Work on IndyGo’s second bus rapid transit project—the Purple Line—began on February 25, 2022. This line opened on October 13, 2024, primarily serving the corridor along 38th Street between downtown Indianapolis and Lawrence.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Blue Line—the third BRT route connecting Cumberland eastward to Indianapolis International Airport west of downtown—occurred on February 28, 2025. Completion is projected for 2028. The Blue Line’s dedicated bus lanes faced opposition from state legislators who introduced legislation in 2024 seeking their prohibition; however, this bill was withdrawn after IndyGo and city officials agreed to maintain two general traffic lanes along more segments of the corridor.

Julia M. Carson Transit Center

Situated at 201 E. Washington Street, the Julia M. Carson Transit Center functions as a central hub for downtown Indianapolis bus routes. Construction of this $26.5 million facility commenced in September 2014, with the center officially opening for bus operations on June 26, 2016. Spanning 14,000 square feet, the center includes IndyGo's Customer Service Retail Center, complimentary Wi-Fi, public restrooms, a conference room, administrative offices, a lounge for bus operators, seating areas, real-time arrival and departure monitors, 19 bus bays, and 700 square feet dedicated to retail space. Out of IndyGo’s 31 routes, 26 provide transfer options at this location.

The facility honors Julia Carson, who served as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 7th district from 1997 to 2007 and was instrumental in obtaining federal funds for the project.

Routes

IndyGo manages 30 fixed routes encompassing around 2,850 stops, with service frequency tailored to population density. While most routes operate within Indianapolis city limits, several extend into Johnson County.

Route list

2 – East 34th Street
3 – Michigan Street
4 – Community Hospital North
5 – East 25th Street
6 – Harding
8 – Washington (Future Blue Line)
10 – 10th Street
11 – East 16th Street
13 – Raymond
15 – West 34th Street
16 – Emerson
19 – Broad Ripple
21 – East 21st Street
24 – Mars Hill
25 – West 16th Street
26 – Keystone
28 – St. Vincent
29 – South Madison
30 – 30th Street Crosstown
31 – US 31
34 – MLK/Michigan Road
37 – Park 100
38 – West 38th Street
56 – Beech Grove
82 – East 82nd Street
87 – Eastside Connector
90 – Red Line
92 – Purple Line

Fares

Payment for IndyGo services can be made using cash, paper passes, or the MyKey reloadable card and mobile application, which produces a QR code scanned by fare readers. The standard adult fare is set at $1.75 per ride or $4 for an unlimited day pass, with discounted pricing available for youth, seniors, and riders with disabilities. The MyKey system incorporates fare capping that automatically upgrades accumulated rides into day passes. Initially launched in December 2019 by Flowbird in collaboration with IndyGo for the Red Line service, MyKey was later expanded system-wide despite early setbacks caused by ticket vending machine malfunctions and user confusion.

Fleet

Over time, the fleet has transitioned from dark orange and silver GM Old Look and New Look buses to a varied collection including models from AM General, GM RTS-II, GMDD Canada New Look, and Orion I. Since IndyGo’s rebranding in 1997, bus liveries have evolved from brown-gold stripes to contemporary white bodies with blue caps; hybrid vehicles feature green caps.

Active bus fleet

Year	Manufacturer	Model	Fleet Numbers	Engine	Transmission	Notes
2010	Gillig	BRT 40'	1001–1011	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R	Retired from service
2011	Gillig	BRT HEV 40'	1012H–1022H	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system	No longer active
2013	Gillig	BRT HEV 40'	1301H–1304H	Cummins ISL9	Allison H 40 EP hybrid system	All retired except H1304
2014–2019	Gillig	BRT 40'	1401–1916 (various)	Cummins ISL9/L9	Allison B400R
2018–2024	BYD	K11M 60'	1899, 1970–1999, 2390–2399, 2482–2499	BYD electric motor	Dedicated solely to Red Line and Purple Line BRT; unit 1993 retired due to fire damage.
2020–2025	Gillig	BRT Plus HEV 40'	2072–2520 (various)	Cummins L9	Allison eGen Flex H 40 hybrid system

In addition to buses, IndyGo operates roughly 80 paratransit vans through both direct management and contracted services.

Acquired Used Vehicles

9789–9799: A fleet of 1997 New Flyer Industries D40LF 40-foot low-floor buses obtained from Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus system. These units have since been retired.
0101-0118: In early 2018, 2000 model New Flyer Industries D40LF 40-foot low-floor buses were procured from the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). These vehicles are no longer in service.
0130-0140: Additional 2000 New Flyer Industries D40LF 40-foot low-floor buses were acquired from COTA in 2013. These buses have been retired.
0001-0021: A series of 40-foot low-floor buses equipped with ZEPS electric drivetrains, purchased in 2015 to serve shorter routes, offering a range of approximately 130 miles per charge. These electric buses are now retired.
0201-0217: Sixty-foot articulated low-floor buses, model D60LF from New Flyer Industries, were bought from Los Angeles in 2002 to enhance capacity on high-demand routes. These buses have been retired.

External links

Indy Connect: Marion County Transit Plan