From Lawrence to downtown, the Purple Line will go south on Post Road and then west on 38th Street before going south again at Meridian Street. The route then goes west at 18th Street, south at Capitol Avenue and west to the Julia M. Carson Transit Center. The route will share some of its 30 stops with the Red Line, which opened in 2019.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said supporting public transportation is about more than getting from Point A to Point B on a route; it’s also about connecting people to jobs, health care, education and food. He cited the new Cook Medical manufacturing facility that will open soon along East 38th Street and a new First Merchants Bank location in Avondale Meadows.
According to IndyGo, about 58,500 people, 60% of whom are minorities, and 134,600 jobs are within walking distance of the Purple Line.
“The truth is, in Indianapolis, upward mobility requires actual mobility,” Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili said.
Infrastructure improvements will include almost 10 miles of sidewalks, 350 curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, new street paving, a multi-use path and storm sewer separation. Like the Red Line, most of the Purple Line route will have painted bus-only lanes in the center of the road.
