INDIANAPOLIS — Many business owners and community members weighed in throughout the debates over Senate Bill 52, some of whom are now relieved to know the Blue Line project is still on.
Celebrations and cheery toasts ensued at a couple of businesses along the proposed Blue Line route, like Kismetic Beer Company off the Historic East section of Washington Street.
“Having this lifeline all the way out to the airport is going to be huge for our city, and we’re just really excited because I think this is a big step forward for Indianapolis,” Kismetic Beer Company owner Nicole Oesch said.
IndyGo’s Blue Line project is back on the table after a controversial senate bill that would’ve killed it failed. It’s great news for several restaurant and bar owners who said they’ve been looking forward to an efficient bus line spanning between Cumberland and the airport.
“It’s going to be amazing to be able to have people come here and safely have drinks and be able to go on and patronize other businesses without having to drive,” Oesch added.
Andrea Homoya, founder and CEO of Ash & Elm Cider Co., echoed that feeling.
“We sell alcohol, people drink while they’re here, and having a way to get to and from our spot without having to drive personally has always been something we’ve cared about,” Homoya said.
Senate Bill 52 would have prevented the project from implementing lanes dedicated to public transit vehicles. IndyGo and city officials said they reached a compromise by agreeing to maintain two lanes of traffic “wherever possible.”
“I didn’t want that to be the whole reason this entire project was turned down because there’s so much more to it than just the dedicated bus line,” Homoya said.
Not all business owners along the route were in favor of it as some were concerned about the impact of construction. Oesch said she believes it’ll all be worth it in the end.
“We just are looking at it as long-term. This is going to be incredible for our city,” Oesch said. “We can withstand a few months or whatever the construction is going to look like for the greater good.”
FOX59/CBS4 reached out to IndyGo for clarification on what the final plan for shared lanes will look like under the compromise. A spokesperson said they have no further comment outside of their initial statement, and thanked the general assembly for continuing the conversation and the community for its support.
