Contractor cited with right-of-way violation after bus gets stuck in hole
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The city has cited an Indianapolis contractor with a right-of-way violation after a school bus got stuck in a hole.
The right-of-way is typically the road, the sidewalk, and the strip of land in between. If you want to dig in or block the right-of-way, you need a permit.
On the afternoon of Aug. 18, Indiana’s I-Team found a school bus stuck on North Delaware Street.
A wheel of the school bus fell into a hole that had a plate covering it up, but it did not hold the weight of the bus.
Underneath the plate appeared to be a water pipe leading to a home currently under construction.
Indiana’s I-Team sent pictures to the City of Indianapolis asking why the road was not shut down for construction and whether this is a city project.
Dawn Olsen, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, said another city agency (Department of Public Works) notified them about the violation right before Indiana’s I-Team reached out.
“Five minutes or so before I had forwarded your email to our right of way person, we already had inspectors out there,” said Olsen. “One of the main reasons we exist is to protect the safety and welfare of citizens. You know that’s why we oversee permitting and licensing.”
The city’s investigation found a private contractor, Revive Indy Resto LLC, responsible for the violation and a $250 fine.
“They got issued a violation for one not having a permit, and two for having earthen materials in the right of way,” said Olsen.
The violation says it’s unlawful to dig or excavate in the public right-of-way without first obtaining a permit.
Indiana’s I-Team called the phone number listed for Revive Indy Resto LLC, but once Kara Kenney identified herself as a reporter, they hung up.
Indiana’s I-Team wanted to know why the company was digging in the road without a permit, so we stopped by the address listed for the business, which also happens to be a home on the north side.
No one answered the door.
When Indiana’s I-Team went back to the scene on North Delaware, the hole was patched up.
Indiana’s I-Team is also still waiting to hear from Miller Transportation, the name on the side of the school bus.
It does not appear anyone was injured in the incident, but hitting an electric, gas or water line can prompt an injury or an explosion—which is why the city says people need to get the proper permits.
“Being able to have our analysts look at that permit application, identify what’s underneath, identify any stormwater needs, and all of that-they’re able to work with the contractor to make sure that everything is as safe as possible for everyone,” said Olsen.
Records obtained by Indiana’s I-Team show the city has issued 133 right-of-way violations so far this year, and 188 in 2025.
Many of those violations are prompted when a contractor fails to restore a sidewalk or road to its original condition.
The city wants the public to report concerns through Request Indy or the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622.
“We don’t know what we don’t know, so when the public lets us know there is an issue we are able to go out there, make sure everything is safe and possibly issue a violation,” said Olsen.
