Indy Documenters Lauren Holton and Serena Thompson attended the July Indianapolis City-County Council meeting. 📝 Read more about what happened.
Indianapolis drivers will need to slow down, as city leaders approve new speed limit reductions to improve safety, especially in residential areas.
Traffic changes
Drivers can expect more restricted parking on 16th Street east of the Monon Trail crossing. Parking is no longer allowed near the trail during peak hours in the morning and evening.
Councilor Jesse Brown thanked the Department of Public Works for working on this “quick fix” that will naturally slow traffic. Brown said small changes, like parking restrictions, are simple yet effective ways to do so.
East side residents can expect to see Michigan and New York streets, from College Avenue to Emerson Avenue, become two-way streets, which would reduce rush-hour traffic on the east side.
Though the timeline keeps getting pushed back, Councilor Brown expects to see the change in the next few weeks, “The last I heard, the streets were planned to be opening this week, but that doesn’t look likely. This month for sure though.”
Other traffic changes include a U-turn restriction at Kiel Avenue for eastbound to westbound traffic on 38th Street and restricted parking on the west side of Orchard Avenue from 38th Street to Millersville Road
These changes were approved unanimously by the City-County Council to improve traffic safety and flow in various Indianapolis neighborhoods.
Speed limit reductions
On the north side, expect to reduce speeds to 25 mph on North Kenwood Avenue from 46th Street to Westfield Boulevard. Lakeside Drive, a two-lane residential road from Lafayette Road to West 71st Street, is also reduced to 25 mph.
“This is another in a long line of efforts trying to lower speeds on this residential street, especially because IPS lets children off at 54th in Kenwood. I know everybody is working to ensure that we reduce speeds and make these areas safer for our residents,” said Councilor John Barth.
Southsiders can expect speed reductions near Beech Grove. Speeds are reduced to 40 mph on Emerson Avenue from Victory Drive to Thompson Road. On the southwest side, Salem Creek and Berkshire subdivisions will now have a speed limit of 25 mph.
And all speed limits in the White River Innovation District near downtown are reduced to 25 mph.
These changes are part of ongoing efforts to make streets safer for drivers and pedestrians.
What’s next?
The next City-County Council meeting is 7 p.m., August 11, at 200 East Washington Street.
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