DeLaney invites Freeman to come ride the Red Line with him

Last week, Senate Bill 52 passed out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. This bill is the latest attempt by State Sen. Aaron Freeman (R-Indianapolis) to quash any effort to expand access to public transportation in Indianapolis. SB 52 would prohibit the use of dedicated bus lanes in new mass transit projects, disqualifying IndyGo from federal grants it depends on to construct the Blue Line expansion. The project includes important upgrades and repairs to Washington St. as well as to other infrastructure.

“IndyGo’s bus rapid transit Red Line runs through my district in Broad Ripple. I have taken it to commute to the Statehouse. Riding the Red Line allows me to get a walk in and get to work quickly without driving. 

“I know the construction was frustrating for businesses along College Ave. in my district. However, the Red Line has enabled businesses new and old along it to flourish in the years it’s been operational.

“In short: In the absence of more dramatic and expensive options like light rail, the Red Line has been an economic revenue generator and provides essential infrastructure for the people of my district and beyond. 

“It seems that Sen. Freeman, in pushing Senate Bill 52 to kill the Blue Line’s construction, does not understand what the Red Line has shown. It’s a firm belief of mine that state legislators should not legislate what we do not know. I am issuing Sen. Freeman a friendly invitation: Come ride with me on the Red Line to the Statehouse. I think it might change your mind.”