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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowYou may have become so used to them that you no longer notice, but snaking through downtown Indianapolis’ northwest quadrant are the remains of a revolutionary public transit system that transported riders on elevated tracks 30-feet high. It was called the People Mover, developed for $44 million by Clarian Health Partners, the hospital system now known as Indiana University Health. From its launch in 2003 to 2019, it recorded roughly 6 million rider trips on a 1.4-mile track running between Methodist Hospital, University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children.
The People Mover had the cooperation of city officials, who allowed the track to use public right of way along Senate Avenue, West 11th Street and University Boulevard. And the People Mover was filled with promise, as some predicted it could be expanded to a larger public transit system that would include Indianapolis International Airport. But tram came to screeching halt in 2019, when IU Health said it would begin offering shuttle buses instead and expected to save about $40 million over 10 years. That also was about the time IU Health began planning a massive facility consolidation and modernization project downtown.
IBJ reporter Daniel Lee has a personal connection to the People Mover and recently began looking into what remains of the twin-track system and whether IU Health has any plans to resurrect it. (Here’s his story.) In this week’s edition of the IBJ Podcast, Lee also gauges support for a proposal that would transform the infrastructure into an elevated trail celebrating the heritage of Black communities on downtown’s northwest side.
Click here to find the IBJ Podcast each Monday. You can also subscribe at iTunes, Tune In, Spotify and any other place you find podcasts.
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Poor choice. Proprietary system. Too slow. Unavailable in some weather.
Other people mover by other manufacturers offer reliable service.
Granting public right-of-way to a private party could be viewed as a direct subsidy for the reported $44 million investment, assenting masking the cost if right-of-way had not been free.
The guideway as is would require significant modification to be used as a pedestrian track. Essentially, the parallel conveyance structures would have to be decked to provide a solid base for a pedestrian use. The NYC Highline was built along a disused elevated railroad right-of-way with a ballasted track bed.
So, who would use such a pedestrian amenity. Could it be linked to the Canal walkways and the Cultural trail. How would it be patrolled to ensure security. Where and how would interim access be provided for both convenience of use and emergency access. Would the entire trackway be retained. The relatively hideous set of columns across 11th Street should be modified.
But, this guideway belongs to . . . . whom? Who has rights regarding its future use? One ponders whether the guideway should be dismantled if not demolished. Or, could it be retrofitted with a proven reliable peoplemover, similar to those operating at Chicago O’Hare airport, Phoenix SkyHarbor airport, Houston Bush airport, Seattle SeaTac airport or first-class automated small profile rapid transit such as Vancouver SkyTrain, Dubai metro, or mini-metros in Lausanne, Toulouse and Lille. Proven examples of reliable automated people movers and transit exists — why, pray tell, did Clarian choose the now dead system?
They probably went with the cheapest company they could find.
I agree it would be nice to see it retro fitted from a reliable company that has experience dealing with climate such as ours.
Indianapolis deserves a reliable peoplemover between the Airport and Downtown, and this wasn’t ever going to be that.