By Chris Sikich Noblesville Ledger for Indy Star

FISHERS — Planning officials will decide whether the Nickel Plate route should be the first spoke in a regional hub of mass transit next week.

Ehren Bingaman, executive director of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, updated business and community leaders about plans for rapid transit today at the Fishers Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization has gathered public input on its recommendation for a $160 million diesel rail transit system with five to six stations from Noblesville to Indianapolis. The system would be running by 2012.

The Indianapolis Regional Transportation Council will vote on the plan at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 26 at the state fairgrounds.

Michael Reed, 60, lives and works in Fishers but said he would use the route for Downtown shopping or to visit people at Indianapolis hospitals. The Fishers United Methodist Church pastor also would support a tax to pay for the project because of rapid transit’s positive impacts on the environment and traffic congestion.

“I think the trade-off would be well worth it,” he said.

If the council approves the plan, an environmental study would be undertaken to determine station locations, where land needs to be acquired and the impact on noise and air quality, wetlands, historical properties, flood plains and endangered species.

Bingaman and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority will look for local, state and federal funding.