Mayor Greg Ballard today announced eight bike lane projects throughout Indianapolis totaling 32.52 miles will begin construction starting in May – and will more than double the bike lane miles in Indianapolis in 2011.
“At the end of the 2011 construction season, bike lanes will run from county line to county line with more than 63 miles of bike lanes installed since I became Mayor in 2008,” said Mayor Ballard. “We have made great strides in our efforts to become a more bike-able city, and the construction of additional bike lanes in 2011 will provide a tremendous resource for those who bike Indianapolis and is another step toward a better quality of life for our residents.”
Mayor Ballard was joined for the announcement, part of Sustainability Month, by cycling enthusiasts at the intersection of 56th Street and Lafayette Road, the site of one of the next stretches of bikes lanes soon to be under construction along Lafayette Road. Bike lanes are being installed along Lafayette Road from White River Parkway and north on Lafayette to 71st Street. A bike lane project constructed last year already connects 71st Street to the northern county line. In addition, new bike lanes will be installed along sections of Shelby Street, Madison Avenue, Illinois Street, Capitol Avenue, 46th Street and 52nd Street.
The City’s green infrastructure checklist initiative implemented in January was utilized in the planning for the recent set of bike lane projects, and as a result, 4.66 miles of bike lanes will be added to road construction projects. The Green Checklist requires City staff and contractors to evaluate each RebuildIndy infrastructure project for possible sustainable elements, such as rain gardens, porous pavement, sidewalks, green spaces and bike lanes. These techniques can provide a wide variety of potential benefits, including reduced storm water pollution, increased safety and lower maintenance and operation costs when applied to the right projects.
“This is an exciting time for sustainability in Indianapolis,” said Kären Haley, Director of the City’s Office of Sustainability. “The financing of these particular bike lanes through a Department of Energy grant is another great example of the City looking for ways to maximize infrastructure improvements.”
Construction of bike lanes in Indianapolis has steadily increased since 2008, at the start of which Indianapolis had less than one mile of bike lanes. In 2008, the City constructed 2.41 miles; in 2009, 20.36 miles; in 2010, 7.86 miles; and in 2011, a planned 32.52 miles.
Bike Lanes Projects Scheduled for 2011
* Lafayette Road from White River Parkway West to 71st Street
* Shelby Street from the Cultural Trail to Madison Avenue, and Madison Avenue south to County Line Road
* Illinois Street from 16th Street to Westfield Boulevard
* Capitol Avenue from New York Street to Westfield Boulevard
* 46th Street from College Avenue to Keystone Avenue*
* 46th Street from Keystone Avenue to Emerson Avenue*
* West 10th Street from I-465 to Lynhurst Drive*
* 52nd Street from Meridian Street to College Avenue*
* Projects identified and added as a result of the 2011 launch of Mayor Ballard’s RebuildIndy Green Checklist initiative.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment