Transportation services firm to cut 142 Indianapolis jobs

The company that provides special services to IndyGo says it plans to eliminate employment for 142 workers, mostly drivers, when its contract with the local public transportation organization ends March 31.

Dallas-based MV Transportation Inc. currently operates IndyGo’s Open Door paratransit service, which provides transportation for people with disabilities throughout Marion County.

MV was one of three companies that submitted Open Door service proposals to IndyGo in the fall, but following a public solicitation process, IndyGo decided to switch to a new vendor—Silver Spring, Maryland-based Transdev North America. 

In a letter the Indiana Department of Workforce Development received Tuesday, MV said it will permanently eliminate the 142 Indianapolis positions. MV’s local operations are at 5700 W. Minnesota St., just east of Interstate 465 and the Indianapolis International Airport.

In December, IndyGo’s board of directors authorized a three-year contract with Transdev, plus two one-year renewal options, for an amount not to exceed $54.8 million over that five-year period. IndyGo expects to enter into that new contract in March, said IndyGo spokeswoman Lauren Day.

"During the transition to the new contractor, there will be no disruption to Open Door service for the customers," Day told IBJ in an email. Open Door travels nearly 3.5 million miles and provides more than 300,000 trips each year.

Day said MV employees will get a chance to meet with Transdev and apply for jobs with that company.

MV and Transdev did not respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday morning.

Transdev contracts with local governments, airports, private companies and universities to operate a variety of transit systems, including bus, streetcar, ferry, taxi, shuttles and others. Its corporate parent is Transdev Group SA, which is based in France and has operations in 19 countries.