TRANSIT: Indiana House passes mass transit funding bill

A bill that would allow the improvement and expansion of mass transit options in central Indiana passed the state House on Tuesday by a 56-39 vote. Initial state Senate hearings on the bill could begin in early to mid-March.

The measure—House Bill 1011—would allow local communities to create new local funds dedicated to transit, pending voter approval in a local referendum.

The bill was co-authored by a bipartisan group and has received strong backing from the House Roads and Transportation Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

Indy Connect Now, the local transit coalition pushing the bill, has already begun meeting with key senators, and is scheduled to meet with the rest as early as next week.