CARMEL — If you want to travel around Carmel, you most likely use a car to do so. The city is now thinking about expanding options for residents who can not or will not drive.
Carmel is asking residents how they move through the city with a transportation and mobility survey. The survey closes on February 21 and has questions related to transit access and reliability.
Hamilton County only has one public transit option: Hamilton County Express, an on-demand shuttle service for all Hamilton County residents operated by the non-profit Janus Developmental Services.
"A lot of people don't know that we exist," said Hamilton County Express transportation director Ashley Fluellen.
"It's probably the least efficient form of transit, but that's all we have," said Carmel Department of Community Services Director Mike Hollibaugh.
Unlike a traditional bus service, Hamilton County Express riders need to make arrangements in advance for their trips.
"We would like for you to make the reservation two weeks in advance as opposed to a fixed-route service like IndyGo where you don't have to make a reservation," Fluellen said.
According to Fluellen, Hamilton County Express made 76,061 rides in 2024. That is an increase from 2023, when the agency completed 62,514 trips. In comparison, IndyGo's Red Line often completes about 75,000 rides every month.
She said the increase shows there is a demand for public transit in Hamilton County.
"They don't have to pay astronomical amounts of money on gas, they can utilize this service if they want to," Fluellen said.
Carmel now has more than 100,000 residents. It is Indiana's 5th-largest city and has nearly the same population as South Bend.
-
106-year-old downtown business Windsor Jewelry reopens with new ownership
Windsor Jewelry reopened its doors to the public with new ownership on Tuesday, after being on the brink of closing forever.
Bike lanes open on New York and Michigan Streets, making it easier to get around
More bike lanes are coming to Indianapolis, making it easier to get around the city. It's a step in the right direction, advocates said; they have been pushing for quite some time.
UPS worker killed in shooting on Indy's northwest side
On Tuesday, IMPD responded to the 5400 block of West 81st Street at around 9:55 p.m. Officers at the scene located a victim suffering from injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
New details emerge in fatal domestic shooting of woman on E. 10th Street
According to IMPD, officers responded to the 3000 block of E. 10th Street on the report of a person shot just before 9:30 p.m.
