Typical??

This week’s IBJ hit the mailbox with approximately three full pages devoted to a potential downtown transit hub.

That much space was needed to discuss the necessities of design, what such a facility would do for surrounding economic activity, what amenities should be included in the building, etc, etc, etc.

The operation of actual handling of transit vehicles and their passengers seemed to us, in this article at least, to be getting much less attention than the need for a spectacular architectural design rather than just a "bus station."

But to get back to the title of this essay, what does seem to be typical of public planners in this city is the content of the very first paragraph of the story.

"Here’s what we know: Bus service provider IndyGo and an international superstar architect will create a $17 million transportation hub..." (Our emphasis.)

So, "what we know" - without even any basic preliminary planning information about the structure itself - is that it will cost $17 million dollars.  There may be a problem with the meaning of the word "we" in this case.   If the author of the story means the taxpaying public, he's way off target.    "We" certainly don't know what, and for how long, things have been cooking in the mayor's kitchen.  But not to worry.  The big chunk of the cost will be some "free" federal money.

We are also assured that "...the fee for architectural and engineering services will not exceed...about $190,000."  Isn’t that actually pretty chintzy for an "international superstar" who has offices in New York City, Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy.

On the other hand, quotes in this very same IBJ story from the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune indicate other efforts by the same gentleman have not always been happily received.

We’d be willing to bet that there are at least a half dozen firms within Indianapolis, or certainly within Indiana, who very adequately could handle the required aesthetic and functional necessities of this building.  Even if "buy locally" made no difference financially, wouldn’t it be nice to show off our "world class" people?

But, what the hell.  When you’re spending public dollars, especially those free federal dollars, you really have to go all out to impress the folks - in Zurich and Milan.  Why go with a "merely adequate" Cadillac when someone else’s money will buy you a Rolls Royce?

What a pity this downtown project could not have been linked with Georgia Street.  Purchase of five bus tickets gets you a free trip on the zip line?  That would bring in the riders!

Comments

[Gary Welsh]

Uh, William, our grandparents and great-grand parents didn't build those street car boondoggles. They were all built and owned by private operators.

[William McCarthy]

Jim is right on all counts. Indianapolis, like many other cities, once had an electric car transit system that was eventually displace by automobiles. Does this mean that our grandparents or great grandparents built 'boondoggle' projects like the electric streetcar and inter-urban systems simply because they became outmoded after 50 some odd years? Did they waste the taxpayers money? I think the city planners are to be commended for at least moving in the right direction

[Jiim Fuquay]

Engineering and architectural firms usually special in structures/markets, such as sports stadiums, high-rise buildings, and transit systems. Using an experienced firm can give the city access to proven models for both the building and cost of transit systems that can be scaled up or down depending on the city's needs and expected rates of expansion. Let's hope this approach surfaces in away that "normalizes" the expected costs and gives the taxpayers/funders more information. Regarding getting federal funds, if the city of Indianapolis doesn't get them, another city/state will. Lets make sure Indiana gets its fair share of these revenues; after all, we made the "donations." :)

[Gary Welsh]

When I said weeks ago that they were already dividing up the contracts before the mass transit proposal had been approved, I really meant it. The IBJ article is a confirmation of this fact.