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New Indy Transportation System Finalized By End Of Year

Last updated on Tuesday, September 11, 2007

(INDIANAPOLIS) - The president of a panel that’s been studying mass transit between Indianapolis and its northern suburbs expects to settle on a route and a type of transportation by the end of the year. But it’ll take longer to come up with a plan to pay for it.

Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman says after three years, the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority is nearing a decision on one of four routes connecting Noblesville to Downtown Indy and IUPUI. And she expects some form of fixed-guideway system -- either an express bus, light rail or monorail.

But Altman says the federal government can only be expected to put up half the cost at most, and only on condition local government rounds up the other half.

Former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening joined Altman before a legislative study committee, and urged Hoosiers not to shy away from a regional sales tax. He says counties which opted out of Denver's commuter rail tax are now clamoring to get in.

Altman says a regional sales or income tax is under consideration, but says CIRTA is far from committing to such a plan. State legislators would have to authorize any new tax.

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