A bill to create a rapid-transit system in central Indiana is headed for the crucible of the Senate, where skeptics stand ready to tear apart the proposal’s $1.3 billion financing plan.
The toughest questions will come from a few Marion County senators. Lobbyists say the local delegation is key to lining up votes in the rest of the chamber.
“It’s going to be critical that we build support with all of the central Indiana delegation,” Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Mark Fisher said. The chamber, along with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and top elected officials in Hamilton County, is lobbying in favor of the bill.
While transit advocates focused on the House, which passed the bill 56-39 on Feb. 25, Republican Sens. Brent Waltz and Mike Young conducted independent research that questions Central Indiana Transit Initiative projections. (The initiative is a project of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.)
Waltz said he supports mass transit in general but wants to make sure voters in his south-side district don’t end up paying for a system that leaves them underserved.
“Being in the investment banking business, I see projections every day of companies that are going to do great. Of course, not all of them do,” said Waltz, who owns The Baron Group.
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