Gary Public Transportation Corp.

Investment in public transportation could be an opportunity to address some of Gary's most pressing challenges. That was the vision outlined by Gary Public Transportation Corporation Interim General Manager Denise Comer Dillard during the recent celebration of the Gary Metro Center's 40th anniversary.

The Adam Benjamin Metro Center has been Gary's transit hub for the past 40 years. It's also a major part of the city's plans for the future.

Officials in Gary marked the 40th anniversary of the Adam Benjamin Metro Center by announcing an expansion of intercity bus service.

A new bus route serving North Hammond and Whiting is now up and running. The Gary Public Transportation Corporation's new R6: Lakeshore North route officially launched Monday.

A new bike share program will launch in Gary and part of Hammond next month. The Gary Public Transportation Corporation's Cycle219 program is scheduled to begin March 4.

The Gary Public Transportation Corporation is looking at potential route changes. Routes L1, L3 and L5 would be suspended and replaced with a new crosstown feeder. A new service would connect Hobart to Indiana University Northwest, while service on Grant would be increased to every 30 minutes.

Bus ridership is up at the Gary Public Transportation Corporation. The GPTC said on Facebook that three of its routes have surpassed pre-pandemic ridership levels: the Broadway Metro Express, R2 Merrillville Shuttle and R4 Lakeshore South.

The Gary Public Transportation Corporation's fleet of electric buses officially entered service Wednesday. The four 35-foot GILLIG buses cost a total of almost $3.6 million, with $800,000 of that coming from the Indiana Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. They'll run on the Broadway Metro Express route, serving Gary, Merrillville and Crown Point.

Offering free rides for a day gave the Gary Public Transportation Corporation a big boost in ridership.

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