Indigo Line

Indigo Line
Name	Indigo Line
Color	Indigo
Type	Rapid transit
System	Metropolitan Transit Authority
Locale	Greater Metropolitan Area
Stations	24
Open	October 18, 2007
Operator	City Transit Corporation
Character	Elevated and underground
Linelength	22.5 mi

Indigo Line. The Indigo Line is a high-capacity rapid transit service operated by the City Transit Corporation as a core component of the Metropolitan Transit Authority network. Inaugurated in 2007, it provides a crucial east-west connection across the Greater Metropolitan Area, linking major employment, educational, and cultural centers. The line is distinguished by its modern rolling stock and integration with other transit modes, including commuter rail and bus rapid transit systems.

Overview

The line serves as a primary artery, connecting the central business district in Downtown with suburban hubs like Westgate and the University District. It interfaces with multiple other MTA lines, including the Red Line at Central Station and the Blue Line at Union Square, facilitating extensive network connectivity. Key destinations along its corridor include Capitol Hill, the Riverfront Park, and the Technology Research Park, supporting millions of passenger journeys annually. Its operation is central to the region's transportation planning and economic development strategies, often cited in studies by the American Public Transportation Association.

History

Planning for the corridor began in the late 1990s following a major congestion pricing study commissioned by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Construction commenced in 2003 after the passage of the State Transportation Bond Act, a legislative victory championed by Governor Eleanor Vance. The line opened to the public on October 18, 2007, with an inaugural ceremony attended by Mayor David Chen and USDOT officials. Initial service was extended in 2012 to Airport Terminal to integrate with Metro International Airport, and again in 2018 to Northshore following the completion of the Cross-Bay Bridge project.

Route and stations

The route originates at Northshore Station, an elevated structure with a park-and-ride facility, before descending into a bored tunnel under the Cedar River. Major underground interchanges occur at Central Station with the Red Line and Yellow Line, and at Civic Center with the Green Line. The line emerges to an elevated guideway through the University District, serving stations like Campus East and Research Hospital. The western terminus at Westgate Station is co-located with a major Amtrak and regional rail facility, designed by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Rolling stock

Revenue service utilizes a fleet of 85 7000-series electric multiple unit trains manufactured by a consortium of Siemens Mobility and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. These vehicles feature regenerative braking, automated train operation systems, and real-time passenger information displays. The fleet is maintained at the Mid-City Maintenance Depot, a facility that also services trains for the Orange Line. A prior pilot program tested aluminum–air battery technology on two trainsets in partnership with MIT researchers, though it was not adopted for the full fleet.

Operations

The line operates approximately 20 hours daily, from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with headways as short as four minutes during the morning peak. Service is managed from the Metro Central Operations Control Center, which also oversees the Silver Line. Fares are collected via the system-wide smart card system, branded as MetroPass, compatible with all MTA services. The line consistently ranks highly in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for transit, though it has faced challenges during major events like the International Science Fair and severe weather incidents documented by the National Weather Service.

Future plans

Approved expansions include a 3-mile southern branch to the Riverbend neighborhood, currently in the environmental impact statement phase led by the Federal Transit Administration. Long-range proposals in the MTA 2050 Plan consider extending the line to the Emerald Hills development and integrating with the proposed high-speed rail station at Downtown. Upgrades to the train control system to CBTC standards are slated to begin after the completion of a similar project on the Red Line, funded in part by grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Category:Rapid transit in the United States Category:2007 establishments