Indianapolis Considers Reuse Of BlueIndy Stations

Electric car sharing program BlueIndy ended service this month. 

Indianapolis has until September to decide what it wants to do with the 80 car changing stations across the city. Mayor Joe Hogsett says the initial study indicates the infrastructure is still an asset.

"We continue to be mindful that the best solution may look different on a station by station, or neighborhood by neighborhood, basis," says Hogsett. 

The city is opening a request for information to assess different reuse possibilities, with a focus on equity and needs based solutions.

Mayor’s Office Policy Advisor McKenzie Higgins says they need to be forward thinking.

"Because of the pace of innovation," says Higgins, "the city is going to need to be nimble and able to create an environment where companies can pilot new technologies and respond to changing trends."

Hogsett says reverting space back to parking may not be the best use.

The cars, some of which were recently pictured stacked upon each other in a dump, belong to BlueIndy. 

BlueIndy started in 2015, under then-Mayor Greg Ballard's administration, with a $6 million investment from the city. The company cited a lack of financial stability when it announced plans to withdraw earlier this year.