I-65/I-70 North Split Project

Presentation updated February 2018

• Planning documents do not identify a preferred alternative

• Early in NEPA process• Not doing final design

Project Status

Preliminary Planning NEPA Partial Design

ProcurementFinal Design and Construction

We are here

North Split Interchange:

• Second-most heavily-traveled interchange in the state

• Accommodates over 214,000 vehicles per day

• Is operating beyond capacity

• Constructed between 40 and 50 years ago

• Does not meet current design standards

Need for Project

Need for Project• Existing 32 bridges need rehabilitation

or replacement due to structural conditions

• Deteriorating pavement conditions require constant repair and patching for roadway and shoulders

• Current interchange has complex lane change configurations

The EA studies impacts on homes, businesses and the natural environment

• Cultural Resources – Historic sites and districts (Section 106)

• Environmental Justice – Minority and low-income populations

• Additional public outreach in low-income and minority communities

Environmental Assessment (EA)

Environmental Assessment (EA)• Noise – Projected changes of noise

levels and their effects on local neighborhoods

• Connectivity – How to maintain connections to local roads, trails, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities

• Coordination – Input from state, local and federal resource agencies and permitting agencies, e.g. IDNR, IDEM

Alternatives• As part of NEPA, investigating a wide

range of alternatives

• Two-stage screening study• System Level• Project Level

• System Level report will be available this spring for public review & comment

• Public information meeting

REMINDER: No preferred alternative yet

System Level Screening Study• Large scale review of alternatives for

interstates downtown

• Evaluate function, impacts and costs

• Considering full downtown interstate system

• Results will guide Project Level Screening of North Split interchange alternatives

• Project Level Screening then defines alternatives for the environmental study

Travel Demand Management

• Interstate Diversion• Increase I-465 capacity and implement

actions to divert traffic away from downtown interstates

• Transit• Make major regional transit investments

to reduce travel demand on downtown interstates

System Level Screening AlternativesTransportation System Alternatives

• No-Build

• Upgrade existing interstates • Including North Split

• Replace existing system

• Depress downtown interstates

• Replace interstate sections with boulevards

• Surface boulevards + interstates in tunnels

• New interstate links

• Past studies show most traffic on downtown interstates is local

• One indicator is peak period traffic, which is primarily home-to-work travel

• I-70 east has the highest peak hour volumes in the state, with 65% inbound in the morning

• I-65 from the south is 70% inbound in the morning

System Level Screening – Key QuestionsCan we divert high volumes of downtown traffic to I-465?

AM Peak Hour inbound Trip Pattern –Indianapolis Travel Demand Model

A 2003 Purdue study showed the following impacts when I-65 /I-70 was closed during Hyperfix:

• Pennsylvania St (south of Fall Creek) 46% more traffic

• Delaware St (south of Fall Creek) 112% more traffic

• Fall Creek/Binford (Illinois to 56th) 35% more traffic

• College Ave (Washington to 10th) 195% more traffic

• East St (10th to Washington) 75% more traffic

• West Street (I-65 to I-70) 78% more traffic

System Level Screening – Key QuestionsHow will local and neighborhood streets be impacted?

• Preliminary cost estimate for the North Split interchange: $250 to $300 million

• Estimated cost for peer city tunnel/ boulevard: $3.5 billion

• Plus $10 million/year for maintenance• I-81 in Syracuse, New York (1.6 miles)

• System Level Screening Study will provide preliminary cost estimates for alternatives

System Level Screening – Key QuestionsWhat would it cost to replace the existing system?

Robust public involvement plan with numerous stakeholders – neighborhoods, employers, local and state officials.

• Project website, social media, text alerts and e-newsletters

• Media relations

• Public meetings

• Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

• Presentations to local groups and key stakeholders

Public Involvement

Public Involvement

And the list keeps growing

Questions

Contact:

Emily KiblingPublic InvolvementPO Box 44141Indianapolis, IN 46244Phone: 317.749.0309info@northsplit.comwww.northsplit.com