A really wild idea!

It’s far enough out that we’d probably accept the thought that it is well beyond "thinking outside the box" - whatever that really means.

This morning’s editorial in the local daily is headlined "IndyGo needs to make quick U-turn." Some of the comments are surprising.  For instance, "Even $4 a gallon gas..." isn’t increasing rider count.  And, "...express buses that link Downtown to the northern suburbs are largely empty...."  This one is at least partly explained, we are told, because of the double whammy of fare increases combined with service reduction.  Somebody actually expected a different result???

The executive director of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority is quoted as saying, "We have a core, loyal readership (sic) on the express routes, but it’s a lesser service than it used to be."  (Maybe it’s just a typo.  Otherwise we don’t have a clue as to what "readership" has to do with bus patrons.)  But, as indicated above, it’s not all that tough to anticipate the effect of "lesser service" plus higher costs.

The last paragraph in the editorial says, in part, that IndyGo is a "civic embarrassment" that should call for "...civic engagement and investment to build a viable transit system that will meet the needs of residents...."  If they’re talking about the needs of Indianapolis resident to get around within the city, they have our support.  And there would seem to be some possibilities.

If we turn to yesterday’s paper, here’s where the wild idea really starts to percolate.  One of two separate stories about the scheduling of Big Ten football and basket ball games, we are told, has made the "Sports community ecstatic."  Considering the estimated financial impact, we feel certain that downtown bars, restaurants, and most particularly the Colts and Pacers really are pretty happy.

We have reservations about the financial impact figures that get tossed around for events like this.  But in this case, we’ll buy in on the numbers.  We fully understand that our suggestion will constitute civic heresy.  But here it comes, anyway.

For the moment forget the Colts.  But remember that the Pacers get all revenues from Conseco Fieldhouse.  If that organization will benefit so hugely from all this new revenue, isn’t it time we stopped payment on those annual $10 million Pacer subsidy checks?  What would $10 million a year do for IndyGo - and the libraries - and the park system?

Couldn’t we risk a little reduction in ecstasy for the sports fans to "waste" public funds on some of the more mundane, but less "world classy" functions of the municipality for the benefit of citizens generally?

Obviously, we could.  Will we?

Comments

[Leslie Baker]

Works for me!