Indy DPW seeking feedback on downtown two-way street conversion project
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works is seeking the public’s feedback on an upcoming project that will turn eight one-way streets in downtown Indy into two-ways.
Citing data from the Federal Highway Administration, Indy DPW says the street conversions should help traffic flow, improve safety, boost connectivity, and enhance quality of life by “re-establishing a sense of place in neighborhoods have been divided by busy one-way thoroughfares.”
Augustus Jones, from Indianapolis, says he doesn’t know if the change will be good or bad, but told News 8 he’ll have to wait and see. “It’ll (definitely) be different,” he said.
Patrick Eldridge says he commutes most places, and believes the changes are a good idea. “If you’re going somewhere in a hurry you got to go all the way around the city just to get to your next destination. I feel like this will be a good change,” he said.
The federal study found that while one-way streets simplify crossings for pedestrians, it causes speeding, lack of accessibility to other streets, and confusion for out-of-towners. Two-ways streets can reduce traffic speeds because it forces cars to drive slower through more “friction.”
“If it slows down traffic that would be great,” Eldridge said. “Especially next to the Children’s Museum.”
Below is a list of the streets DPW hopes to tackle in the project.
- Capitol Avenue from 21st to 38th streets
- Illinois Street from 21st to 38th streets
- Pennsylvania Street from I-65N to Fall Creek Parkway S Drive
- Delaware Street from I-65N to Fall Creek Parkway S Drive
- Alabama Street from Washington to Michigan streets
- New Jersey Street from Washington to Michigan streets
- East Street from Washington to 10th streets
- College Avenue from Virginia Avenue to Market Street
The total project costs $46.5 million, which includes rebuilding traffic signals, revising signage, and possibly adding parking meters.
Brandon Herget, director of Indy DPW, said in a release on the project that the department’s engineers were still in the early design phase, but the conversions are “significant” in making neighborhood streets safer for everyone.
“Now is the right time for our community to provide input that will influence the designs of these projects, and ultimately, the future of their neighborhood streets,” he added.
Anyone interested in commenting on the upcoming conversions can submit their feedback here. The conversions would also be topics of discussion in upcoming public meetings.