Alright, so the transportation woes in my proverbial backyard are still lingering in my head. My family in Dunkirk informed me recently that Central Indiana’s mass transit problems were solved about a hundred years. Yes, that’s right. Hayseed Indianapolis and its surrounding burgs were all connected via a reliable regional transit system, the Central Indiana Interurban. In fact, the interurban allowed passengers from as far north as Fort Wayne to travel to Louisville and Cincinnati and just about everywhere in between (take a look at this map). Essentially trolley cars using electric in the road or hanging above the track, this system provided means for rural and urban passengers to travel throughout the state without an automobile. Now, the interurban dried up when the automobile became a relatively cheap means of transportation. But at one point in time, it was very popular. From “Who’s Your Hoosier Ancestor?..“
The Interurban trains were used by families and groups to take outings, to visit relatives, or to ship in nearby towns. Salesmen and businessmen also took advantage of the low-cost interurban trains for short business trips (p 46).
Robert Reed’s “Central Indiana Interurban” provides some additional information on this surprisingly progressive regional planning move. In the early 20th century, the interurban was popular and cheap (5-10 cents) in Michigan and Ohio. Tracks could easily be added to existing roads by laying steel track in the road without disrupting automobile and horse traffic. Unlike a traditional train, it made frequent stops in every small town it moved through (p 7-8).
Of course, almost nothing can compete with the convenience and flexibility an automobile provides. I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but the era of cheap, conveniant automobile transportation is nearing an end. What are we to do until science delivers hovercrafts and jetpacks for all? We almost have to consider the concept and execution of the Central Indiana Interurban transit system of the early 20th century.
1 Comment
July 18, 2008 at 11:56 pm
My wife and I moved to Indy over a year ago from the Boston area. We were surprised there isn’t a commuter system more developed than the ICE buses. I think Indy has one great thing going for it with regards to starting up a commuter rail system: lots of tracks already laid down coming in from decent suburb centers. The fact that the Indy Star reported a commuter system could be jumpstarted for 50-150 mil in the NE corridor is a pretty small number in comparison to most of the completely wasteful ‘road widening’ projects. Is another lane going to make I-69 faster during peak hours? No. Indygo buses are filling up now, and I work right downtown. I see it everyday as three of my 8 team members are riding the bus now and they are well paid. They are just sacrificing some time convenience for lower transportation costs.
My take on it would be to 1. create some commuter lots next to exits for the major arteries which would be more conducive to carpooling and 2. get private companies to bid on the right to run a commuter rail. That’s how the Japanese run them, and with the level of government incompetence in this nation, it’s a way to avoid government graft and unions to strangle a system. Being from New England, I just look at Boston’s MBTA as an example of a money pit that originally was a good idea just corrupted by poor execution and slimy politicians.
I do see your argument about how suburban people will still have to find a way to the train or bus stops. Well, towns like idiotic Fishers should have thought of the future before approving sprawling development after sprawling development. That town made my wife and I shake our heads in disbelief with its layout. I have little sympathy.