Towns look at adding more pedestrian paths

Local News

July 2, 2009

By Wade Coggeshall The Hendricks County Flyer Thu Jul 02, 2009, 02:33 PM EDT

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization is undertaking several regional studies over the remainder of the year, including four in Hendricks County.

Philip Roth, assistant manager of the MPO, said the agency had federal funds set to expire but no shovel-ready projects to divert it to. So officials asked local planning agencies if they had any studies they wanted done. ‘Yes’ was the standard answer.

Altogether the MPO is spending about $2.6 million regionally on planning studies, including about $84,000 in Hendricks County. Some of the funding also will be used to evaluate pavement conditions in greater Indianapolis.

“I expect the studies to lead to the identification of projects,” Roth said. “Then if those projects are eligible for federal money, they can apply and go through our process to get (it).”

Avon has two of the studies. The White Lick Creek corridor from County Road 100 South to the Plainfield Recreation and Aquatic Center (almost four miles) will be examined for potential trail construction. The MPO also will consider the feasibility of adding more transportation choices along U.S. 36 — such as transit, bicycles, and walkways — while maintaining vehicle traffic flow.

A similar thoroughfare study is underway in Danville.

Brownsburg is looking at connecting its existing trails together and to various parks, schools, and the library. That study includes public meetings to gather input and a conceptual design to be used in future grant application proposals.

Of the 18 studies helmed by the MPO, eight of them concern multi-modal analysis. Six focus on walking trails.

“There are several requests for alternative transportation studies,” Roth said. “I think there’s a lot more interest in doing multi-modal studies.”

It’s easy to understand when looking at other communities that have already woven such trails into their fabric. Thomas Beck, a principal planner for the MPO in charge of the White Lick Creek and Brownsburg studies, cites the Monon Trail. Many neighbors of the path had concerns before it was built, chiefly regarding the potential impact on their property values. But rather than hindering it, it’s helped. In fact, the Monon Trail has spurred development in the towns it passes through, including Westfield and Carmel.

“I think people do see them as attractive amenities to communities,” Beck said. “Just the fact they’re kind of becoming standard (is proof).”

Roth notes other cities, including Indianapolis and Lawrence, also are considering the prospect of multi-modal improvements. The MPO already created a regional vision plan on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

“A lot of what you’re seeing is communities taking these vision plans and determining their applicability to local infrastructure,” Roth said.

All four Hendricks County studies are to be completed by the end of the year.

wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com

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