Proposed plan would bring major changes to West Street in downtown Indy – WFYI

Proposed plan would bring major changes to West Street in downtown Indy  WFYI

A new plan to remake a portion of West Street would mean big changes for downtown Indianapolis, if it's adopted. The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce partnered with local nonprofit Rethink Coalition on a plan to sink portions of West Street below street level, from around 10th Street south to Walnut Street, and to build bridges above it. Those bridges would hold green spaces for pedestrians and smaller roads for local traffic. They would enable pedestrians and bikers to travel through a section of downtown without having to navigate traffic lanes. The plan is similar to the Chamber and local nonprofit Rethink Coalition's plan to redesign the I-70 and I-65 split.

Taylor Hughes, chief strategy officer at Indy Chamber, says the redesign would make streets safer and help connect downtown neighborhoods. "Indy's very good at hosting the world," Hughes said. "But what does it look like to have hospitality for people who are living here 365 days a year? I think continuing to invest in the urban fabric, you know, in housing and connectivity is a critical part of how we do that." A study conducted by the Rethink Coalition showed the economic impact these kinds of projects can have on cities. By reinvesting in busy intersections to make them safe, desirable places, the report shows cities saw billions of dollars