INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 19, 2021) – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is seeking public input on potential design options to improve Rockville Road (U.S. 36) between Raceway Road and I-465. A public involvement period is launching today and will continue through Feb. 19.
The public is encouraged to review a fact sheet and watch a presentation before responding to a six-question comment form. The presentation will be repeated during two virtual public meetings this Thursday, Jan. 21, and recorded for viewing after the meeting.
The public can register at the link below for the virtual meetings, which begin at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. For those without internet access at home or work, a dial-in option is also available.
Register Now: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XgEUexJ9TKS3X0Xis_EJBQ
Paper copies of the fact sheet, presentation slides and comment form are available by request. Also, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requiring auxiliary aids including language interpretation services and document conversion. The public may make such requests by calling 855-INDOT4U (1-855-463-6848) or emailing INDOT@indot.in.gov.
Design options
INDOT launched the Modern Rockville Road project in 2020 to gather information about a three-mile section between Raceway Road and I-465. Two public questionnaires collected information about issues facing Rockville Road and potential solutions to the public’s top issues.
The Project Team performed an engineering assessment with guidance from public questionnaire responses and developed three potential options:
- No build: INDOT would maintain the existing five lanes – two in each direction with a center turn lane and paved shoulders. The traffic modeling predicts that congestion would get worse and crash rates – already among the highest in the state – would increase as congestion increases.
- Added lanes: Portions of the existing center turn lane and paved shoulders would be repurposed to add a third through lane in each direction for a total of six lanes. The left and center lanes would be narrowed to calm traffic and to minimize the road footprint.
- Displaced left turns: Secondary signals would channel left turns across opposing traffic. This is a short-term solution to provide more green time for through traffic at three signals while keeping Rockville Road to two through lanes in each direction.
Additional information about the three options is available in the fact sheet.
Both the displaced left turn and added lanes options recommend building a raised center median and sidewalks. The comment form seeks additional public input on:
- Median gaps for left turns,
- Organizations to maintain landscaping in the center median, and
- Sidewalk and grass buffer widths for the north side of Rockville Road.
Next steps
INDOT’s project team will review public input collected from this third round of public involvement and recommend one design solution later this year before a public hearing. The project is scheduled to begin construction starting in 2023.
To stay informed, the public may follow the project on Facebook or Twitter and sign up for project updates by e-mail or text message at ModernRockville.com.
