An update on the I-65/I-70 North Split Current Plan

Announced in September, INDOT's current plan--Alternative 4c--will reduce the height of retaining walls and doesn't call for additional through-lanes, but it still doesn't go far enough to specifically increase connectivity between neighborhoods and areas of commerce divided by the interstate, or increase opportunities for inclusive economic development along the path of the interstate. We do applaud INDOT for modifying a portion of their plans due to community voices. INDOT planned reconstruction of the North-Split will deeply impact historic neighborhoods and potentially harm our city's beauty, livability, and transport.

Fall recap of significant events

On September 10th 2018, Indy’s City-County Council passed a Resolution supporting the efforts of the Rethink 65-70 Coalition as well as adopting the four Guiding Principles for the reconstruction of our interstates in downtown Indianapolis. The four principals are shown in the graphic below.  Rethink and its’ coalition of civic organizations and businesses, at their own expense, engaged Arup, an independent, nationally-renowned transportation planning, design, and engineering firm to assist in evaluating the transportation demands, economic development opportunities, and creative financing potential involved in the reconstruction of I-65 and I-70 in downtown Indianapolis. The results of that Arup study were received in early Nov 2018 and a public info session was held Nov 12 (described in the article at the top of this section).

A few weeks later after the City Council resolution (Sept 28), INDOT unveiled plans for the NorthSplit and gave the community a 30-day comment period, which concluded while the Arup study was underway. In early October, INDOT hosted a second public session to discuss their vision and get public comment. The general consensus from The Rethink Coalition was INDOT's Alternative 4c embraced the first two principles, but the proposed NorthSplit plan lacked the connectivity and economic development principles of the final two principles.  

Based on the Arup findings on Nov 12, the Rethink Coalition asked supporters to reach out to the Governor and INDOT to ask any North-Split reconstruction work not preclude the adoption of a depressed highway and all the economic and quality of life benefits such a reconstruction would allow for the largest economic engine of the state.

International Engineering Firm Arup Group Presents Study to Indy Residents, Businesses and Community Leaders

November 2018...Representatives from Arup Group—an independent, nationally-renowned transportation planning, design, and engineering firm hired by the Rethink Coalition to evaluate the transportation demands, economic development opportunities, and creative financing potential involved in the reconstruction of I-65 and I-70 in downtown Indianapolis—presented key findings on November 12 2018 to the public at Indiana Landmarks. Download Arup’s powerpoint presentation. Rethink 65/70 and its coalition of civic organizations and businesses, at their own expense, engaged ARUP, to aid in the vision of what’s possible (and best practice) for this incredibly pivotal moment of Downtown’s history.

The Arup findings envisions a plan that adds value to Indianapolis with new possibilities and opportunities.  It maximizes space by compressing the interstate footprint and pumps economic development impact into our community, creating new land development for an added 3,330 new residential and 6.6 million square feet of new commercial space. Additionally, it could add 83 acres of new development with 95 new parcels of real estate. That would create millions of dollars in land appreciation for existing properties as well as increased property taxes. The design idea proposes below ground (depressed) lanes for through traffic and at-grade local lanes that can ‘exit’ onto the street grid at any intersection. 

While this plan is envisioned for the long haul, we hope tweaks to INDOT’s current plan could accommodate a depressed option for future implementation. Indianapolis is the driving economic engine of the State and it deserves forward-thinking ideas to attract new talent and jobs if we are to remain a vibrant core for surrounding communities. This is a 50 year Quality-of-life issue. It is time to rethink the rebuilding of interstates today!

What can you do?  Please join us in reaching out to both Governor Holcomb and INDOT to request the State to ensure the design of the North-Split interchange does NOT preclude implementation of a depressed highway concept or its associated benefits.

Based on the Arup findings on Nov 12, the Rethink Coalition asked supporters to reach out to the Governor and INDOT to ask any North-Split reconstruction work not preclude the adoption of a depressed highway and all the economic and quality-of-life benefits such a reconstruction would allow for the largest economic engine of the state.