Indianapolis Regional Pedestrian System Plan
   

Public Open House Report

I M P O R T A N T

this page updated January 6, 2005

 

Report on the October 20, 2004 Public Open House on the development of the Indianapolis Regional Pedestrian System Plan.

 

The public open house was held on:

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Artsgarden, Downtown Indianapolis

 

Meeting Agenda

5:30 PM Exhibits and Planners Available

6:00 PM Presentation/Discussion

7:00 PM Presentation/Discussion

8:00 PM Adjourn

 

   

GOAL: Prepare a 20-year implementation plan for walkability throughout the nine county Indianapolis planning region.

 

  • Reduce dependency on private automobile for personal transportation by providing viable and attractive alternatives.

  • Provide pedestrian accessibility to schools, parks, shopping, places of employment, and to public transit routes and stops.

  • Incorporate principles of environmental justice to the prioritizing and distribution of facilities.

  • Incorporate ADA/universal accessibility principles in pedestrian system design guidelines.

  • Leverage interagency resources and innovative funding for cost effective implementation of a comprehensives pedestrian system.

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Key Concepts To Be Discussed at the Meeting

  • Transit oriented development

  • Pedestrian corridors and districts

  • Pedestrian/Transit system integration

  • Walk-to-school buffer/collector zones

  •  Environmental design guidelines and developmental regulations for walkability

  • Thoroughfare system classifications incorporating pedestrian and bicycle categories

  • Permitting system based on Best Practices

 

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will host an Open House to encourage public review and comment on Phase 3 of its proposed Regional Pedestrian System Plan. The goal of the plan is to develop a 20-year implementation strategy for making the nine-county region more pedestrian-friendly. Discussion will center on pedestrian issues in Decatur, Wayne, Pike, Washington, Lawrence, Warren, Franklin and Perry Townships, including pedestrian/transit system integration, walk-to-school buffer/collector zones and environmental design guidelines.

 

The Pedestrian Plan Open House will be held on Wednesday, October 20th at the Artsgarden, downtown Indianapolis. Exhibits and planners will be available from 5:30 to 8 PM, and an informative presentation is scheduled for 6 and 7PM.

"Our long range goal is to make walking an integral part of our regional transportation system," said Mike Dearing, MPO Manager/Master Planner. "Eventually, we’d like to provide pedestrian access to all public transit stops, improve the mobility of non-drivers, establish safe routes to schools, and reduce traffic congestion and its related air pollution."

Phase I of the project, which ended last year, considered study methodology and the feasibility of a proposed Cultural Trail in downtown Indianapolis. If implemented, the Cultural Trail would function as the hub of a system in the region’s most pedestrian-oriented environment. During this phase, modeling techniques were also established for evaluating pedestrian corridors and districts, and transportation interface patterns.

 

In Phase II, which ended this past spring, planners inventoried land use, residential, commercial and employment patterns for Center Township. Systems that affect walkability, such as sidewalks and transit routes, were also considered. In addition, areas that require ‘context sensitivity,’ such as historic neighborhoods, were identified along with environmental justice priorities.

Phase III of the project is currently extending the Center Township pedestrian route system plan to surrounding "donut" townships within Marion County. Subsequent phases will expand it to communities outside of Marion County.

 

For more information on the Pedestrian Plan Open House, contact MPO Master Planner and Manger Mike Dearing at 317/327-5139 (mdearing@indygov.org) or MPO Senior Planner Amy Inman at 317/327-5646 (ainman@indygov.org).

 
     

For more information call 639-3420 or visit www.indygov.org/indympo