Urban Indiana

Mayor Joe Hogsett, Rethink Coalition Announce $2 Million USDOT Grant Award

Today Mayor Joe Hogsett, Congressman André Carson, Rethink Coalition, and the Indy Chamber announced a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The award will fund a planning study around the southeast leg of the I-65/I-70 Downtown Inner Loop near the Fletcher Place and Fountain Square neighborhoods, examining how to create more livable, reconnected communities around the interstate while maintaining interstate commerce and regional travel.

"This federally funded study will help guide our community as it looks at ways we can reunite neighborhoods divided by the original interstate program," said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "Thanks to USDOT, INDOT, and our community partners, this announcement begins a process that could have lasting benefit for generations of Indianapolis residents."

This planning study is focused on Virginia and Fletcher Avenue bridges over the 1-65/1-70 interstate and ties in between Washington Street interchange and the South Split. The outcome of the study will identify design alternatives for capping areas over this recessed interstate section, to create new space for community development and restoration of the local street network. An interstate cap is a type of deck bridge built on top of a roadway to create new acreage for development.

Neighborhoods and adjoining areas historically affected by interstate impacts will be central participants to a robust community conversation with researchers, community leaders, residents, and stakeholders.  They will envision different capping and bridging options that best support community needs such as workforce housing, entrepreneurship, open space, and greenways that enhance quality of life. This will be done in collaborative partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), which owns and manages the interstate system, to ensure that interstate commerce and regional connectivity is maintained.

"Congress has kicked off the 'infrastructure decade' thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is already bringing unprecedented investments back home to Indiana," said Congressman Carson. "This grant is just the beginning. Over the coming months and years, our state will receive billions of dollars to make important improvements to bridges, streets, and highways that will make our communities better connected and better prepared for a 21st century economy."

More below:
https://indychamber.com/2023/02/28/mayor-joe-hogsett-rethink-coalition-announce-2-million-usdot-grant-award/

Coalition wants downtown Indy interstates rebuilt below street level

A local organization is putting forward a bold, new plan to dramatically overhaul the interstates around downtown Indianapolis.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has acknowledged that those sections of I-70 and I-65 are nearing the end of their time and will need to be completely rebuilt.

The Rethink 65-70 Coalition is proposing that when the interstates are rebuilt, they be recessed, meaning below street level. Currently the interstates are elevated above city streets.

The coalition released new renderings on Wednesday showing what that change would look like.

More below:
https://fox59.com/indiana-news/coalition-wants-downtown-indy-interstates-rebuilt-below-street-level/