INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Demonstration planned for IndyGo meeting

A $4 million deficit has led IndyGo to raise fares by 25 cents per trip, consider eliminating as many as 14 routes and possibly cut as many as 70 jobs. IndyGo spokesman Alvin Hayes said, “This is not something we want to do. But we don’t have the option of running on deficit financing.” Alvin added that the fare increase will only generate an additional $750,000 per year and that the deficit will continue to increase by $260,000 per month if changes aren’t made by March 14.

IndyGo riders are resisting the cuts and point out that service to some areas of town is already thin. At some stops, customers may have to wait as long as one to four hours between pick ups (“Missing the Bus,” Cover, Feb. 18-25). Pat Watson, a frequent rider on Route 27, doesn’t know what she’s going to do if the plan to cut her route goes through. “IndyGo is the only source of public transportation this city has. I’d rather see a higher rate hike than lose this route. What are they thinking? It’s sad that since they have a monopoly they can get away with this.”

On Feb. 11, 75 people met in the sanctuary of the North United Methodist Church to talk about problems with public transportation here in Indianapolis and to organize a protest. People immediately began to complain about the city and the mayor. A call went up for impeachment and boycotts. One woman held up a sign that said, “Let My People IndyGO.” When control was regained, microphones were set up and everyone had their turn to speak.

Kate Van Winkle, the Indianapolis representative of Association for Community Reform Now (ACORN), said, “Our main goal here tonight is to come to an agreement on a list of demands for the City-County Council and for the IndyGo board. We also want to get the word out about the IndyGo board meeting on Feb. 26. We want to pack that meeting.”

The list of demands that the group came to agreement on follows:

1) No cuts to the routes.

2) More consideration of low-income and working people when making decisions about the buses.

3) More consideration of the Hispanic community and other non-native English speakers.

4) More disclosure of IndyGo’s finances.

5) No more lying to the people.

6) Reinstatement of the transfers.

7) Better distribution of the federal money to reflect a greater priority for public transportation.

8) More input from drivers.

9) Better customer service plans to make public transit more attractive to more riders by improving efficiency.

The Indianapolis Public Trans-portation Corporation board, which oversees IndyGo, will meet on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at its headquarters at 1501 W. Washington St. For more information about the resistance to IndyGo cuts, call 635-6277.