Mass Transit bill passes, moves to committee

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The bill that could lead to a new mass transit system in central Indiana advanced in the General Assembly Wednesday morning. 

A committee in the Indiana House of Representatives voted 11-1 for House Bill 1011, which is the measure that calls for a referendum on local income tax hikes in Hamilton and Marion counties. 

The hikes would increase taxes by .3 percent.

The money would be used to build a better bus system. The plan has the support of Mayor Greg Ballard but failed to win approval in two previous sessions of the legislature.

After the vote, Ron Gifford, executive director of Indy Connect Now, said attitudes are changing. 

“I think a lot of legislators understand now that local governments face a lot of different challenges,” he said, “and that local communities have different needs and they need different ways to deal with those needs.”

HB-1011 was filed by State Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel).

The mass transit bill now goes to the House Ways and Means committee for further consideration.