Holt Road Discussion Back On the Table

(posted Mar 10)

Greater Garden City Civic Association President Merri Anderson remains a "disbeliever" that closing Georgetown Road from 16th to 25th Street will work. Anderson contends that Wayne Township can't afford to close any roads, especially until Holt Road is completed. "It is going to hurt a lot of people and it is going to kill a few people, and I mean that figuratively and literally."

Traffic flows in Wayne Township were just one of several topics discussed at the GGCCA March 5 meeting.

Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Lori Miser said the traffic analysis shows that closing Georgetown is a viable plan, and that the Speedway Redevelopment Commission will have to conduct studies after the road is vacated. Miser was one of the guest speakers addressing traffic flow issues in Wayne Township at the meeting. The SRC will be required to do a study analysis once some of the improvements are made to assess conditions.

Tom Glass of the 500 View Neighborhood Association wanted to know if there are plans for Holt Road. Miser said Holt Road was removed from the thoroughfare plan, "and with everything happening in Speedway we are talking about it again." Miser emphasized there are no plans, but it is in "the discussion phase."

The discussion to realign Holt Road was news to Jo Ellen Dotlich, who was under the impression the plan was on hold. "Holt Road does not have to curve to go through Speedway Industrial Park." Dotlich said "If there is any discussion, I feel like the landowners should be notified."

Miser said it is the SRC's responsibility to notify property owners. Dotlich responded that the SRC is not communicating with the landowners.

"I want to know they are looking at other options," Dotlich said. She does not want Speedway Industrial Park to be chopped up further. "Now they want more of our land." SIP is currently on the acquisition for the redevelopment plans that include the realignment of 16th Street.

Susan Luebbert requested closing Georgetown Road temporarily to see how traffic affects the school zone and 25th Street. Luebbert owns three residential properties on 25th Street. She said that 184 trucks enter the Coca-Cola plant from 4:30 am to 7:30 am. She was concerned about that amount of truck traffic being diverted to Lynhurst Drive.

Luebbert said that American Structurepoint conducted the study for the Speedway Redevelopment Commission. She said that a temporary closure is currently being conducted at 72nd Street in New Augusta to study traffic flows.

Miser was not familiar the 72nd Street study, but said that the DPW does not always rely on the American Structurepoint's work. She said the DPW hired its own consultant to double check the roundabouts. She said a temporary closure was considered but the DPW was advised that two weeks would not provide enough information, but"the proposal is not off the table totally."

When asked to extend the study to four weeks to gather more information, Miser discussed the complications because people still reside along the road. She said it would not give an accurate representation because people still need to have access.

Miser said the MPO received $39.5 million in stimulus money to be distributed among the nine counties it has jurisdiction over. "That is the biggest challenge that I am facing at the moment."

Most of the money will be distributed to upgrade streets. Indy Go is receiving $16 million, but it is not coming from the $39.5 million. She said no stimulus money is being dedicated to the northeast corridor for light rail.

Miser said the stimulus money is awarded to projects that comply with the federal transportation process. "Shovel ready" projects means the environmental study is approved and the right of way is cleared through the federal process.