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The Indianapolis Department of Public Works plans to build a $2.1 million trail along Southeastern Avenue to connect the Twin Aire neighborhood and the city’s Community Justice Campus with downtown.
Construction of the multi-use trail began this week and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. It will stretch for just over one mile—about 5,452 feet—along the north side of Southeastern Avenue from Washington Street to Leeds Avenue, near Rural Street.
“This trail will serve as a critical route for people who walk or bike into Downtown from neighborhoods on the near-southeast side,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a media release. “But it also looks ahead to provide easy pedestrian access to developments at Twin Aire Shopping Plaza and the old drive-in. Combined, these efforts are giving more choice and freedom of movement to neighbors on the southeast side.”
The trail is designed to feature six crosswalks and 56 ramps that are compatible with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The decision to build the connector comes as the city evaluates future plans for the Twin Aire Shopping Center, which was purchased in 2021 by the Marion County Health and Hospital Corp.
The Department of Metropolitan Development has not chosen a path forward for the property and the neighboring Twin Aire Drive-In from five ideas that were submitted last year as part of a request for proposals process.
Those proposals were submitted by a partnership of Buckingham Cos. and RDOOR Housing Corp., Deylen Properties, Flaherty & Collins Properties, a partnership of KCG-Companies, LLC and Ascent Development Group, and TWG Development. The mix of proposed uses include market-rate apartments, supportive housing, townhouses, green space and retail, including a grocery store.
City-County Councilor Kristin Jones, D-District 18, represents the neighborhood. She said she considers the trail to be a big step for residents looking for more transportation options and better connection to downtown.
“My constituents have made it clear: They want better, safer pedestrian facilities in their neighborhoods,” Jones said. “As the new chair of the Public Works Committee, I’m looking forward working with Indy DPW to bring more pedestrian-focused construction to our city.”
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This + the road work being done to allow for a bus route between Downtown & the Justice Center will be huge.
Bus routes currently operate. Route 26 operates from the Carson Transit Center to the Justice Center via Virginia Ave and Prospect every 15 minutes. The route continues north along Keystone to Keystone at the Crossing on 86th. The infrequent Route 56 operates from the transit center via Virginia, Fletcher, and English Ave then continues via English, Sherman, Prospect, Southeastern and Emerson to Thompson Rd.
A city counselor is listening to their citizens they represent and then turning around and working to use our tax dollars to allocate solutions towards what she hears?
Imagine the world we could live in if even 10% of our representatives did this!
Hear Hear!!
If it wasn’t for the CJC, it wouldn’t get the time of day, neither would the round a bout have been built.
A billion behind on road repairs and we have 2.1 for a trail, that is utilized few people!
A billion behind on road repairs and we have 2.1 for a trail, that is utilized by a few people!
Sounds like a good use of money.
the roads do need a lot of work but trails cause a boom in the local economy.
All that money to connect the city to nothing and you are spoiling a potential near east artery from Washington to Fountain Square by building a LOW Barrier homeless shelter on shelby and not cutting the path that would be great for all the Washington Street and Shelby Street community. You are sacrificing Shelby street’s future.
Common Kristen Jones, how about standing up for us.?
Indianapolis???,, What aren’t you thinking.
It’s fine. Leave if you don’t like things. Easy fix.