Construction of IndyGo's Red Line is close to 'finally starting'

The IndyGo board of directors Thursday named the two companies that will build the 13-mile Red Line electric bus rapid transit system from Broad Ripple to the University of Indianapolis, a major step before construction can begin in the spring.

The decision means "this project is finally starting," said IndyGo's Justin Stuehrenberg. Construction is expected to start in March and take about 15 months.

"We're excited to get to this point and excited to be putting things on the street," said Stuehrenberg, vice president of planning and capital projects for IndyGo. "The whole reason we're doing this is to provide good service to people. But obviously, we have a lot of work ahead of us."

More Red Line news:

► Red Line would limit left turns on Meridian Street, College Avenue

► IndyGo plans to seize pub's parking spaces for Red Line rapid transit

► Red Line gets $50 million in congressional spending deal

Reith-Riley Construction Company of Goshen and Indianapolis' Wilhelm Construction bid $45.9 million to design the Red Line's first phase of 34 bus stations that will start at 66th Street and College Avenue and end at Shelby Street at UIndy.

Reith-Riley's $30.3 million portion of the bid will cover improvements or repairs to existing concrete, asphalt, signals on the streets and surrounding sidewalks. Wilhelm allotted $12 million to build the Red Line stations. The two were the lowest of six bidding companies.

"Both firms do a lot of work in Indianapolis, from that standpoint, we feel confident that they're local Indiana contractors but they're big enough to handle a project of this size," Stuehrenberg said.

The bids came in under budget, allowing IndyGo to award $3.6 million for "alternate" features, including a snow-melt system at each station, more-durable stone platforms at some stations and red "bus only" lanes on Capitol Avenue.

The two companies will begin planning a construction schedule with IndyGo before breaking ground. No roads will be closed during the construction process, and at least one lane will be open to traffic at all times.

"There'll be a lot of coordination, a lot of simultaneous activities," Wilhelm spokeswoman April Parsley said. "This is kind of at the forefront of the project."

The Red Line will see its first passengers in 2019. During the construction process, IndyGo will have a live construction map on its Red Line website to update commuters every three weeks.

IndyGo received a $50 million federal grant for transportation funding in May, $25 million shy of what was hoped for the project. In February, the City-County Council approved a .25 percent income tax hike that would add more than $54 million a year into the county's bus system. The Red Line project will cost $96 million.

Bus rapid transit, or BRT, means buses are faster and more frequent than Indy's standard bus service, with dedicated lanes and raised platform bus stops to speed up the boarding process. Red Line buses are expected to make stops every 10 to 15 minutes during the week and every 20 to 30 minutes on weekends for 20 hours each day. The Red Line is the first of the BRT systems. A Blue Line and a Purple Line are planned following the construction of the Red Line.

The Red Line has seen its share of detractors, including Chuck Mack, who owns Moe & Johnny's restaurant and bar at 5380 N. College St., the location of a future Red Line station. IndyGo sent Mack a notice this summer that it will seize much of his street-side parking lot under eminent domain to make room for the station.

Mack called the process "negative and predatory" and said it would harm his business.

"We're doing this project because we think we're going to have a transitive impact on this city," Stuehrenberg said. "We are committed to making sure that we are transparent and making this the best project it can be and involve and inform as many people as we can, knowing we're not going to reach everybody, but doing what we can to try to do so."

Call IndyStar reporter Amy Bartner at (317) 444-6752. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.