Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path

A group of neighbors in Indianapolis led an effort to create a temporary multi-use path on the Calvary Street Bridge to illustrate the potential of bike- and pedestrian-oriented safety improvements.

As Jordan Smith reports in the Indianapolis Star, the project was spearheaded by community members from the Fletcher Place and Fountain Square neighborhoods and partially funded by the city. “The city contributed a $6,500 grant for the neighbors' "tactical urbanism" project through its Community Powered Infrastructure program, which matches dollars raised by local groups to improve roads, sidewalks and multi-use paths.”

“The two neighborhoods partnered this weekend to place more than 60 traffic barriers along the southernmost lane of the Calvary Street bridge, where the new path runs. They also painted the road and set up several new curb extensions to calm traffic along nearby McCarty Street.” The same community members have been monitoring traffic speeds on their local streets, which led to the addition of temporary curb bumpouts on some streets to slow traffic.

The current projects will last through October, when the city will need to use the space to operate snowplows. However, the neighbors involved hope to make the changes permanent next year.