Central Indiana transit bill gets committee OK, heads to Senate vote

The funding for mass transit would be put up for a public vote on certain county ballots under Senate Bill 176. The bill passed the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. The bill specifies that the expansion of public transportation would be available in Madison, Delaware, Hamilton, Johnson and Marion counties.

Funding would be derived through local option income taxes. Also, fares are to cover 25 percent of the operating costs.

The bill would authorize Madison, Delaware and Johnson counties to impose an additional rate under the local option income tax between .1 percent and .25 percent. The bill was authored by Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, and Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Indianapolis. Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, was added as a co-author on Jan. 15.