Stantec has been selected to lead construction management for the Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the city of Indianapolis.
Once completed, it will be the city’s third BRT route, providing critical connections to the airport, the existing Red Line and planned Purple Line, and other frequent and local bus routes in the system. The 24-mile, all battery-electric bus system will follow the path of the existing Route 8, providing safer and more reliable services to communities that rely on transit and have the largest concentration of zero-car households.
“We are delighted to partner with a leader like Stantec for the third phase of our bus rapid transit implementation. The Blue Line is a critical component of the Marion County Transit Plan,” said Jennifer Pryz, chief development officer, IndyGo. “This project will change the way our residents and visitors use public transportation in Indianapolis, especially to and from the airport.”
In partnership with Shiel Sexton and Shrewsberry, Stantec will provide construction management services for the roadway, stations and utilities, as well as overall integration. The firm is committing to a 25 percent disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) participation goal to build diversity into the project supply chain. Stantec says it has extensive experience supporting DBE participation in large-scale transit projects, such as the Red and Purple Modernization Program in Chicago, the Long Island Rail Road Expansion in New York, and the Purple Line Extension project in Los Angeles.
As with many BRT projects, the implementation of dedicated BRT lanes and construction of the stations will require navigating several critical challenges, including mitigating utility conflicts, maintaining access and circulation during construction, and ensuring that system integration for communications and signals is operational prior to service. Stantec will leverage its experience on previous BRT projects as well as lessons learned from IndyGo’s Red Line implementation to successfully deliver the project.
A major source of funding for the Blue Line is the Federal Transportation Agency’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants Program, totaling $100 million. Following federal guidelines on how the funding is used is critical to the project’s successful completion. Stantec says it brings extensive experience in FTA project delivery, from project development to entry to engineering and through full construction.
Stantec’s project team will rely on a strong presence in Indiana, supported by expertise from across North America. The Blue Line BRT is another project that will reinforce that presence in the state, including water, environmental services and buildings disciplines in addition to transportation.
“The Blue Line BRT Project demonstrates an important investment in communities that need transit, and BRT is particularly well-suited to medium-sized cities looking to make effective infrastructure investments,” said Brian Norris, senior vice president and construction project manager, Stantec. “We are excited to partner with IndyGo because we understand that providing equitable service is the foundation that guides the decision-making process in every stage of a project, from planning through to the end of construction.”
