IndyGo is a leader in the public transportation industry. Not only do they move millions of residents and visitors across 400 square miles in Marion County, but they also set the standard for innovation, safety, and now, Indianapolis advertising. While IndyGo’s primary focus is to get people to school, work, and play – their partnership with Adsposure allows them to also move meaningful and impactful messages across the Indianapolis area.
The Adsposure team recently learned from Carrie Black, Chief Public Affairs Officer for IndyGo, all about IndyGo’s progress over the past few years and what is in store, along with how advertising with IndyGo is more than just a moving billboard.
IndyGo: A Leader in Public Transportation
IndyGo is the largest public transportation system in the state of Indiana, connecting Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Not only are they getting people to work, school, and play, IndyGo is improving public transportation and the city of Indianapolis while they do it.
Bus Rapid Transit – Improving Neighborhoods and Commutes
A major piece of IndyGo’s development is their investment in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). “I think one of the biggest things that sets IndyGo apart is bus rapid transit, or BRT, shared Chief Public Affairs Officer Carrie Black. “At a time when many other transit agencies were looking at light rail, IndyGo was looking at something far more economical, but just as efficient in bus rapid transit, which is buses traveling in dedicated bus lanes. Still providing that rail like experience, but at a far more economical price tag.”
The Red Line
IndyGo’s Red Line, which launched in 2019, has brought major change to Indianapolis and influenced public transportation nationwide. As one of the first all-electric BRTs in the United States, IndyGo has shown agencies that it is possible to provide environmentally and economically sustainable options to public transportation. Additionally, the Red Line brought infrastructure improvements to the areas that it serves, including 208 upgraded traffic signals, 596 new ADA curb ramps, 30,714 linear feet of replaced sidewalk, and even 30 new trees planted. Adsposure is now proud to sell the advertising space on the 60-foot articulated, electric buses that travel up and down the Red Line, and there have already been prominent organizations featured, including the Indiana Fever, the F.C. Tucker Company, and Ivy Tech Community College.
The Purple Line
And IndyGo’s next BRT line is quickly approaching. The Purple Line will launch October 13, 2024, and will bring even more development to Indianapolis. Carrie and her team are thrilled for the upcoming changes that the Purple Line will bring, sharing, “The Purple Line is running through a historically economically disadvantaged area, and the Purple Line is going to include new street paving, new drainage systems, new sidewalks, new multi-purpose, multi-use paths that people can walk and bike on. So, this area that’s been historically economically disadvantaged is going to see upgrades they haven’t seen in decades. It is going to transform the community, whether people ever ride the bus or not.”
The Blue Line
And that’s not all for IndyGo. They are eyeing a 2025 groundbreaking for the future Blue Line, which will provide rapid transit along Washington Street to I-70, moving from the far east side of Marion County, though downtown to the west to the Indianapolis International Airport. IndyGo is not just changing how people travel throughout Indianapolis, they are changing communities.
Providing More than Bus Service
In addition to their contributions to transportation and infrastructure, IndyGo also provides many community activities and initiatives for the people of Indianapolis through their IndyGo Cares programming.
Wellness in Transit
The Wellness in Transit program partners with local organizations to provide free healthcare to anyone in need, regardless of insurance or ID, through mobile clinics. By bringing these services to the Carson Transit Center weekly, they ensure accessible healthcare for transit riders in a convenient, central location.
Food in Transit
Food in Transit is a program designed to bring affordable, fresh, locally grown produce to the people of Indianapolis. Food in Transit runs for 15 weeks during the summer and early fall and is backed by the City of Indianapolis. Additionally, the Office of Public Health and Safety has joined the initiative, giving cooking demonstrations twice a month and sharing recipe cards and take-home ingredients.
Music in Transit
The final piece of the IndyGo Cares programming includes Music in Transit. This program connects local Indianapolis musicians with the community, allowing them to perform on the larger electric buses. Carrie stated, “It’s fun for our local bands because it’s giving them exposure in a new, unique way where they set up on one of our bus rapid transit busses and do a gig on a bus.” Members of the community and beyond can follow Music in Transit on IndyGo’s YouTube channel.
Advertising in Indianapolis? Try Transit!
With the fantastic programming and new initiatives that IndyGo is rolling out, it’s no surprise that their advertising program is also booming. Partnering with Adsposure, IndyGo allows for external and internal advertising on their fleet of buses, including the Red Line. And a sizeable part of the ad revenue goes right back to IndyGo.
Carrie shared with us that, “Having that extra added revenue is a huge boost to our services, and it’s a huge boost to our teammates. So, I cannot speak highly enough of what it’s like to bring in that extra ad revenue and what it means to IndyGo and to our ability to continue to grow, continue to bring in new people and to continue to expand our services.”
Because of the unique revenue sharing model, advertising with IndyGo isn’t like other Indianapolis advertising choices. When an organization works with Adsposure and IndyGo, their dollars are going into the public transportation system, allowing IndyGo to continue to grow.
It’s More than Advertising
Additionally, advertising with IndyGo and Adsposure builds a partnership between local businesses and the community. When reflecting on their advertising program and the benefits, Carrie remarked, “It’s really a two-way street of helping these local businesses, these mom-and-pop shops, be able to spread their message in a new and a unique way. So, we really appreciate Adsposure and their commitment to community partnerships and building community relationships, because I think that makes all the difference in the world.”
Adsposure is proud to play a role in these partnerships through providing the production and installation of advertising on IndyGo assets. Oliver Berman, Regional Sales Manager at Adsposure, shared, “Having worked with transit authorities all around the country, I can say with 100% certainty that IndyGo is by far one of the best partners that I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. They’re supportive, they see the value of transit advertising, and it is an absolute pleasure to work with them on an everyday basis.”
And it seems the feeling is mutual, as Carrie expressed, “Partnering with Adsposure is like working with a friend. I mean, Adsposure has been wonderful to come in and just walk us through what transit advertising could be in a way that we didn’t even really know existed… It’s been a real breath of fresh air and a real joy.”
The entire Adsposure team would like to thank Carrie Black and the IndyGo team for their warm welcome to Indianapolis. If you’re interested in learning more about advertising in Indianapolis on transit, please visit our Indianapolis Advertising page. And, if you’re thinking about advertising on IndyGo buses and shelters – contact our team today!
