Council approves transit funding referendum

The effort to upgrade public transportation in Indianapolis took a major step forward Monday when the City-County Council voted to add a funding referendum to the November election ballot in Marion County.

Voters will be asked if they support a .25 percent local income tax increase to help pay for the IndyGo Marion County Transit Plan, a package of improvements that include a bus rapid transit line linking the UIndy campus to Broad Ripple, downtown, Fountain Square, Garfield Park and other popular destinations.

Supporters expect federal money to cover construction costs for the first 13-mile phase of the Red Line, which could be operating as soon as Fall 2018. The tax hike would help cover annual operating costs.

Read more in the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal.