Whitestown EIB hears update on Whitestown Connector switch to Go Express; considers 38th Street routing

Whitestown Economic Improvement Board members on Feb. 12 heard a presentation on the transition of the Whitestown Connector service to new vendor Go Express, key operational changes now in place, and preliminary ridership and budget figures for 2024 as staff prepare an annual report due this month.

The presentation, given by Amanda (SIRDA, building manager and assistant director), said Go Express began operating the Whitestown Connector on Jan. 2 and is providing live vehicle tracking and on- and off-vehicle cameras through a telematics system (named in the presentation as Samsera). Amanda said the contract requires the vendor to supply and install a bike rack on the vehicle and to provide timestamped screenshots or video for complaints so staff can verify reported missed or late stops. “I’ve been very impressed with not only these capabilities, but also their response time,” Amanda said.

Why it matters: the board’s Economic Improvement District (EID) pays a portion of Connector operating costs; with a SIRDA grant that previously covered part of service having ended, the EID will fund the majority of service in 2025. Board members discussed potential route adjustments intended to increase ridership and the need to collect…