Indianapolis, Indiana – The federal government is being requested for funding by the mayors of various municipalities in central Indiana so that new train service can be established and old infrastructure can be repaired.
The Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance (IPRA), a different organization, is also advocating for funding.
Tod Bassler, spokesman for the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance, said, “To be able to say, ‘Hey, I’d like to go see a Cubs game and I don’t want to have the stress of flying or driving I-65,'”
In order to commission a study on fixing deteriorating tracks that make trains travel more slowly than usual, the mayors of Beech Grove, Columbus, Greenwood, and Crawfordsville are interested in receiving federal matching funds.
“To increase the maximum speed capability of any train between Indianapolis and Dyer, Indiana from the current level of 59 miles per hour to 79 miles per hour,” stated Bassler.
The IPRA hopes that a portion of the grant money will be utilized to start additional service between Fort Wayne and Columbus, Ohio, and to enhance the frequency of rail service between Indianapolis and Chicago.
Restoring passenger service between Louisville and Indianapolis and other locations would be a further endeavor, according to Bassler.
Bassler imagines a system akin to the swift Brightline rail that ascends Florida’s east coast. a potential service for Indiana.
Transit-oriented development has been demonstrated in other locations, and we are beginning to see it in Indianapolis with the growth of the downtown area. The cultural path and a lot of apartments,” remarked Bassler.
The Federal Railroad Administration may not make its decision on whether to give these grants until October, and it may take another two to four years before these changes are implemented.
