INDIANAPOLIS | Light Commuter Rail | App

[EddieB317]

Originally Posted by cailes

I stand corrected. It is capital. I got mixed up.

I did some digging, and there was an architectural print showing that there is a walkway being constructed under the tracks from the convention center to lucas oil.

If I am not mistaken it will connect to the vertical transportation building thats being built on the north west corner of South and Capital in order to connect to the tunnel under south street that connects Lucas Oil Stadium.

[unvrsty07]

What is the vertical transportation building? I saw this the other day and was curious as to what was taking place.

[GarfieldPark]

I don't know who first started calling it the VTB -- probably something that was written in some construction document. Basically, it is the building that is at the point where the ground level walkway from the Convention Center meets the stairs and escalators that go down to the underground tunnel under South Street that connects to the exhibit halls at the north end of Lucas Oil Stadium - which open up onto the playing surface level. With this connector tunnel and escalator system -- the 565,000 sq. feet of exhibit space at the Convention Center are linked to the 180,000 sq. feet of exhibit space at LOS with an approximately block long, completely indoor, climate controlled walkway.

[unvrsty07]

Is this going to be built on that whole block, or just where it is needed for the tunnel? It may be a nice catalyst for growth as thousands will be stepping out of that tunnel annually.

[cailes]

I think there are going to be parking lots on the south side of the tracks.

I have my second post, examining the route, online now:
http://hustonstreetracing.com/blog/?p=239

A couple photos:

[EddieB317]

Once again! Great stuff and much appreciated! Exciting stuff, even without knowing the actual concrete plan details. Your effort is really helping to solidify in my mind, along with the people I am directing to HSR, that trains ARE coming to Indy!! I love it!

[Sunday_Bloody_Sundae]

I still think it is a huge mistake to spend all of this time and effort on a system that takes people from the suburbs to downtown without a circulating rail system downtown first. It would be nice to have a downtown inhabited by a carless people, or atleast people with cars parked blocks away that dont need to use them the majority of the time. Maybe I am the only person who feels this way but I believe there are far more important legs of a future indy rail system. In order of importance IMO:

1. Downtown circulator
2. Airport to downtown (Could have stops on W. Washington)
3. East Washington
4. N. Meridian
5. Suburban Commuter Rails

[Sunday_Bloody_Sundae]

Its just going to suck when oil climbs higher than before....up to $6-7/gallon .... especially when Oil switches to the Euro as its reserve currency, and the core of Indianapolis sees a huge influx of citizens yet no way to get around the core....imagine the traffic and the mess. And we will have rail to the suburbs by the time people can no longer afford to live there..... Sorry....was watching Earth 2100 on the discovery channel.

[cailes]

You can't build it all overnight. Your opinion is valid in that downtown needs some kind of circulator, but if they get this NE system going, its a good way to get started. Not a fully built out billion dollar plan. Compared to other systems, the cost for this should be pretty low. It will be a good way to build support for further funding other lines around the area.

[cailes]

Ive gotten long winded about stations on my write up now.

146th street: http://hustonstreetracing.com/blog/?p=250
116th street: http://hustonstreetracing.com/blog/?p=268
71st street: http://hustonstreetracing.com/blog/?p=276

[cwilson758]

Cailes...I think you rock

[cailes]

Thanks!

Something else I also discovered in my research...

Downtown Indianapolis Streetcar is not dead

[Sunday_Bloody_Sundae]

Originally Posted by cailes

Downtown Indianapolis Streetcar is not dead

Not the elevated rail or monorail I hoped to see throughout downtown, but this will work if it actually happens. A downtown streetcar would need to run even at night. I would hate to see rail built that is halted at 9pm. It would be nice if the city werent carcentric like the suburbs- that would give a lot of young people a reason move to the core - myself included. However, with cars being basically the only option in both places, there really isnt much difference in the suburbs and the core except the blight. Hate to be debbie downer all the time.

[EddieB317]

Originally Posted by Sunday_Bloody_Sundae

there really isnt much difference in the suburbs and the core except the blight.

Yeah, I know... all of the blight of endless strip malls, surface lots, McMansions and walmarts in the suburbs is pretty horrible. I can understand why some people wouldn't want to live way out there.

[ak72]

Originally Posted by EddieB317

Yeah, I know... all of the blight of endless strip malls, surface lots, McMansions and walmarts in the suburbs is pretty horrible. I can understand why some people wouldn't want to live way out there.

Honestly most people don't have "refined urban architectural taste." And don't see anything wrong with strip malls, surface lots, McMansions, and Wal-Marts. As long as they are new people think they look fine. They don't see it as blight. They don't care about urbanity. They want new and safe. And that's what the suburbs offer.

[EddieB317]

Originally Posted by ak72

Honestly most people don't have "refined urban architectural taste." And don't see anything wrong with strip malls, surface lots, McMansions, and Wal-Marts. As long as they are new people think they look fine. They don't see it as blight. They don't care about urbanity. They want new and safe. And that's what the suburbs offer.

I completely understand... Sarcasm is hard to convey in a post. I just wish that the masses were more sophisticated instead of just afraid of everything thats not new and homogeneous.

[cailes]

Finished my series. The last post was made this morning.

http://hustonstreetracing.com/blog/?p=302

Check it out. Thanks for reading

[EddieB317]

Thanks!

[cailes]

Well, the new year brings some new things brewing. Wont say what yet, but there will be news in a couple weeks to report

[SkywlkrSnd]

Originally Posted by cailes

Well, the new year brings some new things brewing. Wont say what yet, but there will be news in a couple weeks to report

Ah, I hate teases!

Seriously though, real nice job on your blog series, cailes. I had enjoyed your posts here, but I hadn't gone over to read your blog until this past weekend. Great series on the commuter rail. For those of us who maybe don't get as excited about reading environmental studies, thanks for taking it to a more tangible level. Keep it coming!