Residents, IMPD concerned over city speeding; DPW’s plan to slow things down

INDIANAPOLIS – A busy road in downtown Indianapolis frequently sees speeding drivers and it’s creating concerns for those that live there.

A homeowner along Delaware Street complained to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department about speeding so they came out to check it out.

They caught a driver going 78 in a 35-mile zone. Shasta Grant Huntington said speeds can reach up to 15 or 20 over at times.

“The cars just take off, and they’re speeding all the time,” she said.

She’s been taking note of the cars flying by the past 10 years she’s lived there along with the number of crashes.

“Maybe some people don’t realize who are using it as a thoroughfare out of downtown, but this is a residential neighborhood,” said Grant Huntington.

Two years ago, she witnessed a fatal car crash across the street from her home.

“It was a drunk driver who was speeding and disregarded the stop sign and killed someone. It’s terrible,” she said.

Following the death, she said the city finally took notice and began making changes to some of the one-way streets.

Central Avenue was changed to two directions and residents who live over on the street say, unfortunately, it hasn’t made much of a difference.

The Department of Public Works is using $25 million in grant funding to turn one-way streets into two ways.

They plan to alter the section of Delaware from I-65 North to Fall Creek Parkway to help reduce speeds.

“We do have hope that once it’s converted to a two-way street,” said Grant Hungtington. “Maybe that will stop people from using it as a thoroughfare out of downtown, but again, I think it’s like, where is it going to push the traffic is another concern.”

Police have warned those recklessly driving down Delaware and other areas across the city.

“The blatant disregard for law, the speeding, the utilizing of bike lanes, traffic lanes, the bus thoroughfare lanes, the red line, and future lines the city will have it will not be tolerated, and that’s where the enforcement actions come forward,” said Officer Tommy Thompson with IMPD.

DPW said it would begin the work of turning one-ways into two-ways over the next several years.

The other streets set to be converted include:

• Capitol Avenue from 21st to 38th streets
• Illinois Street from 21st to 38th Streets
• Pennsylvania Street from I-65N to Fall Creek Parkway S. Drive
• Alabama Street from Washington Street to Michigan Street
• New Jersey Street from Washington Street to Michigan Street
• East Street from Washington Street to 10th Street
• College Avenue from Virginia Avenue to Market Street

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