Indy approves first pedestrian plan

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Indianapolis is one step closer to establishing its first pedestrian plan.

On Wednesday, the city’s Metropolitan Development Commission approved $135,000 for the plan.

The vote didn’t include money for construction of sidewalks, but those in areas without sidewalks say they’re looking forward to them.

“It’s going to save somebody’s life,” said Larry Elstro, who lives near Ditch Road and 86th Street. “I’ve seen people nearly get hit. So, yeah, it certainly has been a problem, so that’s why it’s been brought up in the neighborhood and why it’s under consideration right now.”

The Greenbriar Neighborhood Association, where Elstro lives, has discussed how to get sidewalks installed.

“There’s people that walk along the street there. Traffic is just right next to them, not more than a foot or two away and it’s certainly very dangerous,” he explained.

The plan was studied by the advocacy group Indy Walkways.

“That plan really sets a vision for how we make Indianapolis a more walkable city in the years to come,” said Kim Irwin, who’s been working on the plan to make the city more walker-friendly for more than a year.

“The planning process helped us think about both geographically in the city where we need to do that and then what types of projects we need to consider,” Irwin explained.

Indy Walkways recently said that it would cost $750 million to build sidewalks everywhere in the city where there currently aren’t any. But they also say less expensive lighting, road paint and crosswalks could all help.

“The project doesn’t end. This is the first step in what we expect to be years and years, decades of work to again continue to make Indianapolis more walkable, and to get more people walking,” Irwin said.

Indy Walkways will now have to get funds approved to build these sidewalks. They say that process will begin immediately.