h a r m o n i

H A R M O N IHISTORIC MIDTOWN INITIATIVE

Meeting Structure

WelcomeWelcome HARMONIHARMONI

ProceduresProcedures INDOTINDOT

PresentationPresentation SKASKA

Review Exhibits & Comment Review Exhibits & Comment YOUYOU

Close HearingClose Hearing 9 PM9 PM

WelcomeWelcome HARMONIHARMONI

ProceduresProcedures INDOTINDOT

PresentationPresentation SKASKA

Review Exhibits & Comment Review Exhibits & Comment YOUYOU

Close HearingClose Hearing 9 PM9 PM


WelcomeCindy Zweber-FreeVice President HARMONI(317) 727-7125 [email protected]


Where is Midtown?

HARMONI Supported Initiatives

Who is HARMONI?


• Founded in 2007

• Became a nonprofit 501c3 organization in April 2008

Harmoni’s Mission:Enhance Midtown’s sense of place and district identification to keep it beautiful, walkable, bikeable, and sustainable.

Promote local businesses, cultural institutions, and tourist destinations.

Attract community and business development, including comprehensive infrastructure improvements and transit options.

Serve as a catalyst for sound practices in business enhancement and residential renovation.

Make Midtown prosper and inspire surrounding areas to develop in an equally positive way.

HARMONI


MidtownThe Midtown District is:

• a destination

• the geographic area between the White River, Fall Creek/Michigan Road, and the Monon Trail

• a valuable economic and cultural asset to the City of Indianapolis

• home for approximately 40,000

residents..............and

• home to many of the City’s most venerable institutions of culture and learning

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M I D T O W N

Alice Alice Carter Carter PlacePlace


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State State FairgroundsFairgrounds


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Midtown visionThe Midtown District Vision is:

• that with community support AND strategic public policy and private sector investment, Midtown will exceed its original condition and be restored to an exceptional place to live

– Rejuvenate the neighborhoods

– Revive all business areas and nodes

Until the entire Midtown area is thriving and sustainable.

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M I D T O W N



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HARMONI Supported Initiatives• ENVISION Broad Ripple Sessions

– Improvements on Broad Ripple Avenue

• ENVISION Maple Road/38th Street Sessions

• ENVISION College Avenue Sessions

• Midtown Masterplan

• Midtown LOVES LOCAL campaign

• Midtown Holiday Home Tour (Nov. 13-14, 2010)

• Safe Routes To Schools– St. Thomas Aquinas– Center for Inquiry/Immaculate Heart of Mary School

• Westfield//Meridian Improvement Plan(formerly called Phase 1) recently received a Transportation Enhancement Grant

• Alice Carter Place park at Westfield and Meridian Streets

Alice Carter Place ParkDonor Opportunities

Support the Park

• Buy a Brick Paver or Park Bench– 4” x 8” brick $150 each– 8” x 8” brick $350 each– Park Bench $2,000 each

• Donate your time, energy or funds

See us at the HARMONI table

or go to:

www.indyharmoni.org

HARMONI thanks . . .

• City of Indianapolis • Indianapolis MPO• Indianapolis DPW• Indy Parks and Recreation• Central Indiana Community Foundation

and all the individuals in our community that have given of their time and financial resources


Public HearingAugust 3, 2010


Public Hearing

Rickie ClarkINDOT Public Hearings Manager(317) [email protected]

Introductions

Design Lead Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc(317) 639-3420

Meg Storrow, [email protected]

Michael Koslow, Project [email protected]

Other Design Team MembersCrossroad Engineers – Surveying/Engineering

Weintraut Associates – Historic Resources

HNTB Corporation – Traffic Engineering

How the Presentation is Organized

1. Project Descriptions

2. Purpose of the project

3. Proposed Improvements

4. Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts

5. Right-of-Way

6. Funding/Schedule

7. Procedure for Receiving Comments on the Project

8. Opportunity to View Exhibits

Purpose of the Project • Pedestrian Connectivity

and Safety

• Traffic Calming, while maintaining traffic flow

• Neighborhood District Identity

Purpose of the Project Pedestrian Connectivity and Safety

• Connect the neighborhood to the Canal Towpath and Greenway System

• Connect the neighborhood to local business nodes

• Provide connectivity within the neighborhood

• Maintain and enhance pedestrian safety

Purpose of the Project Traffic Calming

• Slow down traffic while maintaining traffic flow

• Sustain neighborhood character and value

• Improve pedestrian safety and walkability

Purpose of the Project Neighborhood District Identity

• Appropriate street furnishings (light poles, sign posts, bike racks, etc.)

• Compatible materials (brick paving, concrete sidewalks, concrete scoring patterns)

• Landscaping (lush with seasonal interest, mitigate microclimate impacts)

Project DescriptionsVision Plan • extents covered by an environmental study• shows full range of material choices and design recommendations • not all of the Vision Plan is funded

Funded ProjectsTransportation Enhancement Project • a $500,000 grant: 80% is federal dollars / 20% match by HARMONI ($100,000)• focused on improving pedestrian connectivity at Meridian/Westfield

56th Street Sidewalks • from Illinois Street to Washington Boulevard• funded by the City

Alice Carter Place• challenge grant of $50,000 received from CICF• HARMONI needs to raise an additional $50,000

Traffic Calming StudyGoals

• Continuous flow for most

vehicles on green cycle at a reasonable speed

• Gaps between platoons of vehicles to allow cross traffic at unprotected intersections and driveways

• Maintain traffic volume• Maintain and enhance

pedestrian safety

H A R M O N IHISTORIC MIDTOWN INITIATIVE – NOVEMBER 21, 2008

• Street – 54th Street• 338th6 feet wide• 35 mph speed limit

• 54th Street – Westfield Boulevard• 50 feet wide• 40 mph speed limit

• Westfield Boulevard – Kessler Boulevard• 60 feet wide• 40 mph speed limit

• Traffic Volume = 25,000 – 30,000 vehicles/day

Existing Conditions


IntersectionTotal

AccidentsInjury

AccidentsHighest

Annual (yr)54th Street* 28 9 13 ('05)46th Street 25 7 11 ('04)52nd Street 18 2 10 ('04)56th Street 11 1 5 ('04)Westfield Blvd. 8 1 4 ('05)

*54th Street accident types:Failure to yield 71%

Following too closely 17%Unsafe speed 4%

Improper lane usage 4%Other 4%

39th Street – Westfield Boulevard, 2004 - 2007

Meridian Street Crash Data


• 57th Street Crossing• Consider Flasher• Consider Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon

• Sidewalks (54th Street – Westfield Boulevard)• Provide 6-foot sidewalk (west side)• Widen existing sidewalk (east side)• Separate sidewalk from curb (both sides)

• Sidewalks (Crossing Streets)• Provide 6-foot sidewalks where feasible• Give priority to 56th Street (safe routes to school)

Pedestrian Recommendations


• Retime signal system for 35 mph throughout – traffic will flow better, maintains volume• Install traffic signal at Meridian & 54th

• Analysis supported traffic signal at Meridian & 43rd

• DPW agreed to 4-way STOP at 56th & Central• Install sidewalks on Meridian north of 54th

• Install sidewalks on cross streets (especially 56th)• Install motorist information speed signs

Traffic Engineering Analysis Concluded

The Vision Plan extents are:

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W. 57th Street

Laverock

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55th Street

58th Street

Vision Plan Project

• Meridian Street from 54th to 57th, Westfield Boulevard from Illinois to Pennsylvania Street, and Illinois Street from Westfield to Laverock Road

• 56th Street from Illinois to Washington Blvd

• Stop sign improvements at Central/56th Street

• New traffic signals on Meridian at 54th and 43rd Streets.

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E. 57th Street

Move sidewalks away from the curb and fill the gaps for sidewalk continuity

Vision PlanProposed Improvements

• Meridian Street (both sides) from 54th to Westfield

• Westfield Boulevard from Illinois Street to Pennsylvania Street

• 56th Street (southside) from Illinois Street to Washington Boulevard

• Illinois Street from Westfield Boulevard to Northview Drive

New or Infill Sidewalks with Tree Lawn

Vision PlanProposed Improvement

Raised Landscape Median along Alice Carter Place Frontage • shortens pedestrian crossings, and provides pedestrian refuge• slows traffic• contributes to neighborhood district identity

Alice Carter Place

Canal Towpath

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Raised Landscape Median along Alice Carter Place Frontage and Gateway Point Sculpture Plaza

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Meridian Street & Westfield Blvd. Intersection Improvements• safe pedestrian crossings protected pedestrian• turn lane restrictions crosswalk at bridge


Pedestrian Crossing of Meridian Street from E. 57th Streetto Alice Carter Place Park


Special Pavement for the Meridian Streetcenter lane from 54th to Kessler; remains a turn lane


Meridian Street Bridge Improvements

• Raised median with landscape planters at ends

• Pedestrian / bicycle refuges at ends and center of Canal Towpath Trail crosswalk

• Wayfinding signage and decorative lighting as gateway identity elements


Meridian Street Bridge Improvement


Pedestrian signals and crosswalks at all signalized intersections


Improved Pedestrian Protection

Rectangular rapid flashing beacon at Meridian and 57th Street


Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk Signage


Speed limit signs with radar speed indicator show speed plus message “signals timed at 35 mph”



Proposed traffic signal at 54th and Meridian with a restricted left turn lane during rush hour. Pending DPW traffic review.



Pedestrian Safety

Four-way stop at Central and

56th Street in conjunction with improved sidewalks



Transportation Enhancement Project – utilizes federal funds

Construction to begin in 2011• Pedestrian Connectivity at the Intersection• Traffic Calming• Neighborhood Identity

Does not include brick paving in the turn lane or other vision plan materials and finishes due to funding constraints


56th Street Sidewalks – city funded project

Construction to begin in 2011

•Sidewalks on south side of 56th St. from Illinois St. to Washington Blvd.

•Uses the parking lane on the south side, no impact to existing properties

Alice Carter PlaceProposed Improvements(donor opportunities available)

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• Meandering Pathways and Main Path provide connectivity to sidewalk system

• Gateway Point Sculpture Plaza

• Connection to Canal Towpath and Overlook

• Positions the park for future enhancements

Alice Carter Place

1. State Historic Preservation Office determined a “No Adverse Effect” finding.

2. The draft environmental document will be available August 4 on the www.indyharmoni.org website.

3. A hardcopy of the environmental document is also available at Public Hearing Station 5 .

4. The final Environmental Document will be available at www.indyharmoni.org

Environmental Documentation

Schedule/Funding

Federal Aid ProjectsPhase 1 / Transportation Enhancement 2011 $500,000Future Phases (as funding becomes available) TBD

Locally Funded Projects56th Street Sidewalks 2011 $293,000Alice Carter Place Phase 1 2011 $100,000Future Park Development (as funding becomes available)

1. Visit Station 3 to give written comments. You may also take a comment form to fill out and mail in. Comments will be received until August 17.or you may

2. Visit Station 4 to record a verbal comment into a recorder.or you may

3. Email the Design Team with a comment [email protected]

or you may

Speak informally with Design Team members at Stations 6, 7, and 8. These conversations will not be part of the public record. however.

Procedure for providing comments

Opportunity to Comment and View Exhibits

We will now accept public comments. If you signed up to comment, please come forward to the microphone.


Thank you for participating in this exciting project!

h a r m o n i

Documents

entire midtown area

business enhancement

business areas

community support

exceptional place

harmoni tableor

harmoni thanks

brick paver