Shuttle service expands for commuters from Indianapolis

WHITESTOWN, Ind. (AP) - A shuttle bus service helping workers from Indianapolis reach workplaces in surrounding communities has expanded as officials worry about a lack of available workers.

Three shuttle lines run by the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority go from Indianapolis bus stops to Plainfield and Whitestown. One Plainfield route began three years ago, while the other two routes started four months ago.

Job openings in the communities outside Indianapolis have grown, but employers face a challenge in needing to draw workers from Indianapolis and many of them lacking vehicles. Transportation authority and town officials say expanding the shuttle service is a big part of solving the labor shortage problem, The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1TnRO77 ) reports.

"We know many of the people riding the connectors wouldn't be able to work at these jobs without it because of lack of transportation," said Lori Kaplan, interim executive director of the transportation authority.

Ridership for the shuttle service has grown steadily. There have been about 22,000 rides provided by the first route to Plainfield so far this year, up from 19,229 trips last year.

Several large companies such as Wal-Mart have opened warehouses in Plainfield, accounting for most of the town's 28,000 workers. In Whitestown in Boone County, Amazon has a warehouse employing 2,000 people and other industries have another 2,000 workers.

Plainfield Town Council President Robin Brandgard said Hendricks County doesn't have enough workers, estimating that half of the town's workers come from outside the county.

"We've got a lot of people from Indianapolis," Brandgard said. "In fact, we have people coming from Terre Haute and even Illinois to work here."

Funding for the shuttle service includes $180,000 from Amazon over three years to support the route to Whitestown, where the company has a warehouse employing 2,000 people. The service is also funded by federal grants, and the town of Plainfield has chipped in money for the two routes going there.

The three-year funding for the first Plainfield route expires at the end of the year. Authorities have worked to put together a one-year extension costing $157,000, made up of state and federal grants and $60,000 from Plainfield.

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