Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Can Transit Reverse Indianapolis’ Center-City Slide?

false

At the Indiana statehouse today, a committee is discussing a transit plan that could revolutionize Indianapolis. The proposal would drastically expand transit investment, and add a rapid transit element, in an attempt to make this relatively auto-centric city a more authentically urban place.

But changing the transportation culture of a city is hard. And some of the state's top opinionators have dismissed the whole idea, most recently Andrea Neal, a columnist at the Indianapolis Star. Since Indianapolis is so low-density and oriented around the car, according to Neal, it's foolish to devote more resources to transit.

Aaron Renn of Network blog the Urbanophile says Neal may be right about the current transportation dynamic, but argues there are important reasons to support transit anyway. Like the future of the region's economy:

Let’s take a look at the stark reality. Indianapolis has long boasted of having one of the best downtowns for a city its size in America -- and with justification. From nothing, Downtown Indy has been successfully revitalized as a world class events and entertainment center, something all Hoosiers can be immensely proud of.

But the successful side of revitalization has hidden the less pleasant truth that downtown Indianapolis has been losing large numbers of private sector jobs and has been a national laggard when it comes to attracting residents. More troublingly, the larger urban core is in an advanced state of collapse.

Renn points out that Center Township -- the centermost portion of Indianpolis' Marion County -- experienced pretty significant population loss over the last decade: 14.5 percent, a statistic that puts it in league with cities like Buffalo and Cleveland. Meanwhile, as shown in the above chart, residential growth in the city's downtown areas has been anemic and the city has been hemorrhaging jobs to suburban locations.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘Goddamn Outrageous’: MTA Boss Blames Amtrak For Delaying ‘Penn Access’ Expansion

Janno Lieber lit into Amtrak for delays to Metro-North's Penn Station Access project: "The people in Co-op City are waiting for a goddamn train!"

October 7, 2025

Brooklyn Still Choked by Placard Elite Leaving Their Cars Everywhere With No Consequences

Drivers park illegally — often with city-issued placards — and virtually none ever gets ticketed by cops.

October 7, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Rock and Roll Never Forgets Edition

Why was our house band, Jimmy and the Jaywalkers, snubbed from the journalists' "battle of the bands" on Wednesday night? Plus other news.

October 7, 2025

Likely Mayor Mamdani Supports Daylighting as DOT Digs In Heels

The next mayor will have to overcome a deeply entrenched bureaucracy opposed to the common-sense policy.

October 6, 2025

Under Pressure: Uber’s Navigation System Endangers the Public With Reckless Driving Directions

An Uber driver made an illegal u-turn and hit someone, but the in-app navigation told him to do it and the company won't give up the code.

October 6, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Trump Games Continue Edition

Trump restored some security grant for New York, but billions of dollars in grants remain on ice. Plus more news.

October 6, 2025
See all posts