IndyGo Board of Directors Meeting - August 20, 2026
IndyGo Board of Directors Meeting - August 20, 2026
The Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo) Board of Directors met on August 20, 2026, at 4:02 PM. The meeting included a call to order, roll call (quorum present), awards and commendations, approval of minutes, and several action items including the adoption of the 2027 budget, procurement contracts, and construction projects. All action items were approved unanimously.
Awards and Commendations
- President and CEO Jennifer Pierce presented awards: IndieGo Safe Drivers (July), including Victor Garrett with 25 years of safe service (17 as a safe driver); August Operations Employee of the Month Kevin Rent, recognized for flexibility and team-first mindset; and a retirement tribute to Brian, described as knowledgeable, dependable, and a gentleman, with 25 years of service.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the July 16 and July 30, 2026 board meeting minutes was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion Items
- Action Item A2: 2027 Budget and Special Tax Levy (Resolution 2026-06) – CFO Justin Burkope presented the proposed 2027 operating budget of $164,026,801, capital budget of $189,711,264, and debt service budget of $20,827,650. The resolution authorizes a special tax levy to fund transit service. The budget will next go to the City-County Council's Municipal Corporations Committee on September 16, 2026, with full council vote on October 19, 2026. The board voted by roll call (all ayes) to adopt.
- Action Item A3: Replacement ADA Wheelchair Ramps for BYD 2019 Buses – Director of Preventive Maintenance John O'Balde recommended purchasing 12 ramps from Gillix for $237,126, with six buses currently down. Discussion included inventory management and lead time (16+ weeks). Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A4: Section 5310 Call for Projects Vehicle Purchases – Manager Ryan Wilhite presented procurement of 10 accessible transit vehicles from Midwest Transit Equipment for $1,002,421 (total contract) for subrecipients, including Hancock County Senior Services, Janus, Noble, Pathways, Sycamore Services, and mobility management for Bosma and Access Johnson County. Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A5: Section 5339 Call for Projects Vehicle Purchases – Ryan Wilhite presented procurement of 4 ADA accessible vehicles for Hamilton County Public Transit (demand response service) from Midwest Transit Equipment for $486,600 (85% federal, 15% local). Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A6: Construction Contract for 1501 South Access Drive – Senior Project Manager Sarah Stence presented a $267,043 contract with Midwest Paving LLC to demolish and replace an asphalt driveway with concrete (8-inch thick) at the West Campus. The project will be completed in 45 days with a temporary access plan. Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A7: Two-Year Contract Extension with DuBois (Industrial Cleaning Chemicals) – Facility Supply Chain Manager Gerald Glover presented an amendment extending the contract through August 31, 2028, and increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $110,000 to $165,000. Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A8: Research Partnership with Purdue University – Director of Fleet Services Devin Smith presented a 2-year, $189,082 contract for Purdue to study total cost of ownership of two battery electric buses (40-foot fixed route) compared to diesel. The study will include graduate student research. Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A9: Contract with Ameritran Service Corporation (TRC) – Devin Smith presented a 3-year contract with two option years for bus line inspection and Buy America audits, total 5-year value $140,117. Unanimously approved.
- Action Item A10: Construction Contract for Washington Street BRT Station – Project Manager Christian Cambron presented a $3,393,639.40 contract with Shuck Corporation to construct two new BRT bus bays on the south side of Washington Street at the CTC, including a new platform, bus-only lane, traffic signal modifications, and a turn movement for red line buses. The project includes an 8% WBE participation goal. Unanimously approved.
Information Items
- Finance Report – CFO Justin Burkope reported operating revenue slightly under budget (-1.78%) for July, but passenger service revenue was over budget by 14.22%. Year-to-date operating expenses under budget by 19%. Materials and supplies slightly over budget for the month due to a one-time purchase of extended warranties. Overall year-to-date under budget by $13.5 million (14%).
- IndyGo Foundation Update – Executive Director Emily Moe presented the 2027 sponsorship guide, reported a successful email campaign raising $4,000, and noted challenges in grant funding due to increased competition. The foundation reduced staff from six to three employees to align with funding reality. The annual golf outing is five weeks away with 64% of goal achieved.
- Department Reports – Entered into the record without objection.
Key Outcomes
- All action items (A2 through A10) were approved unanimously. The 2027 budget and tax levy resolution passed by roll call vote.
- A quorum was present throughout.
- The board noted an executive session immediately following the meeting.
- Next board meeting scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is uh Greg Hahn. I'm uh chairman of the board of Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, and this is our uh August meeting. It is August the 20th, 2026. And it is 4 02 p.m. in the afternoon. Um Bob, would you uh please take the room call. Please indicate your attendance when I call your name. Director Fagan, Director Wilson, Director Gardner, President, Director Hong. Mr. Chair, we have a quorum. Thank you, Robert. Uh second item is awards and commendations. And our president and CEO, Jennifer Purz will present any awards and commendations we have for July. Good afternoon, everyone. This is Jennifer Pierce, President and CEO. And I'm happy to announce a couple awards. Uh, first of all, as always, is our IndieGo Safe Drivers. The operators listed here were recognized in July for their safe driving record. And each of them received a national safety council patch, pin, and certificate. I'll call attention to the first person on that list, Mr. Victor Garrett. Mr. Garrett is a coach operator on our fixed route service. He has celebrated 25 years of safe service, 17 of those as a safe driver. So congratulations to Mr. Garrett. Thank you for your great work. Next we have our August operations employee of the month is Kevin Rent, also a coach operator on our fixed route service. The nominator provided the following information. Kevin has quickly become a go-to team member, always willing to step up and help wherever needed while maintaining a positive attitude and strong commitment to the team. Over the past several months, Kevin has become a valuable part of support services by taking on responsibilities across multiple areas, including driving, service center, and training in the radio room. He learns quickly, adapts easily to new challenges, and is always ready to take on something new. His flexibility and team first mindset help keep operations running smoothly. Most importantly, Kevin says a great example for others through his work ethic, reliability, and positive approach. And then my last presentation today is on a retirement. Whether you like it or not. Co-workers and supervisors call him knowledgeable and dependable. He set an example for operators who came up after him. People also describe Brian as a gentleman. He is kind, considerate of others, intelligent with a bright personality. His work ethic never changed over the years. He came in, got it done, and did it well. Brian is part of the local motorcycle community and took part in indie go group rides. He was present at big events, quick with a smile, and easy to share a laugh with. So congratulations. Happy retirement. We wish you all the best. Thank you for your years of service. Are there any questions or comments from the board members?
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