Lawmakers reconsider Indianapolis light rail ban for Amazon

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Lawmakers are reconsidering a state ban on light rail in Indianapolis with hopes of landing Amazon's second North American headquarters.

A House panel gave initial approval Wednesday to a measure that would repeal the 2014 ban on public spending on light rail projects in Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson, Delaware and Madison counties. The bill now moves to the full House, The Indianapolis Star reported .

Supporters argued the city needs all mass transit options on the table if it's going to attract major employers like Amazon.

"Transit is a very major factor for a lot of these major companies that are looking to move here - particularly as we see the Amazon process unfold," said Democratic Rep. Justin Moed of Indianapolis, who wrote the bill.

The tech giant announced last week that Indianapolis was one of 20 finalists for its second headquarters. The $5 billion campus is expected to employ 50,000 people with average salaries of more than $100,000 a year.

Amazon said public transit options are an important factor for the project.

The light rail ban was implemented years ago as part of a legislative compromise. The law gave Indianapolis and most surrounding counties the ability to raise income taxes for public transit through a ballot initiative. But fiscal conservatives insisted on the elimination of light rail to get enough votes from the Republican-led Legislature, fearing that high costs might end up requiring a taxpayer bailout.

Lawmakers and city officials said there are no current plans for a light rail project, but local governments need the flexibility in today's competitive environment.

"This is the time to examine every detail through the prism of Amazon," said Michael Hicks, an economics professor at Ball State University. "Because what Amazon wants is what every modern company wants."

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com