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 more rider-origin and employer data before changing service.

Most important facts and follow-ups

- Vendor transition and operations: Amanda said Go Express’s tracking and camera technology lets staff see a vehicle’s live location and capture timestamped screenshots or video when riders report missed stops. She reported drivers have been responsive during the early transition and that Go Express agreed in contract to supply and install a bike rack for the Whitestown vehicle.

- Ridership: Staff reported a 40-ride month-to-month increase from November to December 2024, Q4 2024 had 2,056 rides, and the system finished 2024 with about 7,000 rides. Amanda and board members noted ridership was slightly down year-over-year and that staff expect marketing and a modest route redesign to help grow usage.

- Budget and grant status: The 2024 total cost of Connector service was reported as $413,676; of that amount $225,593 was charged to the EID. Staff said a SIRDA grant that previously offset service costs had ended late in 2024, and that the EID will carry most costs in 2025 unless new grant funding is secured.

- Potential route change: Staff and TransPro Consulting are studying a semi-redesign that would replace the current Traders Point starting point with a 38th Street start on the loop. Consultants told the board the 38th Street start could improve connections for some riders but might lengthen the loop; staff said there is “wiggle room” to consider an hour-and-15-minute loop if the board approves. No route change was approved at the meeting. Staff proposed surveying riders and consulting employers before making a final change.

- Outreach and marketing: Staff said JTPR is under contract to begin marketing the Connector, and that SIRDA outreach staff (named in the meeting as Sam) continue employer outreach and registration efforts. Staff noted Indigo’s MyStop app and similar technology as possible rider-facing solutions to provide live bus locations.

Discussion, directions and next steps

- Data collection before changes: Board members agreed staff should survey riders and consult employers to determine where riders live and work before finalizing any route changes. Amanda said that staff can collect origin/destination data by on-board interviews or surveys and by drawing on existing registration data.

- Consultant follow-up and staff actions: TransPro will produce an edited proposal; staff (Amanda and Todd Barker) will review revisions, then bring the proposal back to the board for input. Amanda said she will meet with Go Express again to discuss additional technology options.

- Annual report and counsel: Staff presented a draft set of figures for a required annual report due Feb. 15. Todd Barker said he will distribute a draft of the annual report to the board before it goes to counsel for review. The board asked staff to attach the current route map and the five-year ridership summary to the report.

Discussion versus formal action

- No formal policy or route change was adopted; the Connector redesign remains in the discussion/planning stage.

- The only formal actions taken at the meeting were routine procedural votes (opening the meeting, election of officers for 2025, approval of the Oct. 8 minutes, and adjournment). Those motions and their outcomes are listed below in “Votes at a glance.”

Ending

Board members asked staff to prioritize rider and employer surveys and to assess whether a short extension of the loop (for example to 75 minutes) would materially improve connections without unacceptable operational cost. Staff will circulate the annual-report draft to the board and follow up with TransPro and Go Express; any proposed route change will return to the board for formal consideration.