IndyGo's 2014 budget was approved by the Indianapolis City County Council, allowing the transit agency to maintain its current service levels and fare structure next year.

Last year at this time, the council approved an increase of $6 million for the 2013 budget, which allowed IndyGo to make noticeable upgrades to local bus service. The improvements, guided by the Indy Connect bus plan, were phased in over the first half of the year and included new frequent service on core lines, the addition of a route along the 86th/82nd St. corridor, additional Sunday service on Route 34, and route realignments for better productivity and access to destinations.

IndyGo has seen impressive ridership figures as a result of these improvements including double-digit percentage increases on each of IndyGo’s three lines with frequent service (routes 8, 10 and 39).

System-wide, August 2013 ridership soared to nearly one million trips, and by year’s end, ridership is expected to exceed 2012 totals despite huge spikes last year during the Super Bowl.

“The $6 million investment in service for 2013 has resulted in extraordinary ridership gains, evidence that there is a demand for more transportation options in our community,” said IndyGo’s President/CEO Michael Terry. “Stability in our service levels for 2014 is vital to maintaining expanded ridership.”

RELATED: "IndyGo's Michael Terry at BusCon 2013."

In addition to successful implementation and performance of enhanced service this year, IndyGo has garnered two federal grants that will allow the agency to retire its oldest buses sooner than would have otherwise been possible. IndyGo’s most recent and notable grant was a $10 million TIGER award, which will allow the agency to re-power approximately 20 existing diesel buses with a completely electric propulsion system.

Additionally, $10 million from the federal State of Good Repair grant program will replace nearly 30 older buses with brand new clean diesel ones.