Safety at 86th and Monon. Grants awarded.

November 22, 2022

Earlier this fall, the Indiana State Department of Health released a request for proposals for a Tactical Urbanism Demonstration Project grant program. Nora Alliance, in conjunction with partners including Bicycle Garage, Inc. and Ball State Center for Civic Design, submitted a proposal for the 86th Street Monon Crossing corridor. This November, our proposal was awarded a grant by the Indiana Department of Health Community Planner. This was followed by a early 2023 grant from the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA).

Many thanks to the numerous organizations who voiced their support for our demonstration project proposal and the longer-term safety improvements at this important intersection. We are still soliciting support from any organizations that wish to show their support. The project will also require support from the Engineers at the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. Assuming we get DPW support, we will also need:

Design and execution assistance (Winter 2023, Spring 2024)
Assistance with petition signature gathering for more permanent changes, including a tunnel (Winter/Spring 2023)
Donation of project materials (orange barrels during installation, paint, planters, rollers, reflective tape, plants, temporary rumble strips, temporary bollards, etc.) The more we can get donated or purchase at cost, the farther the grant $’s will go. (March/April 2023)
Installation of project elements (April 2024)
Citizen-led traffic study to have data to compare to July 2022 study (July 2023),
Assistance with maintenance of project (May-October 2023)
Assist with removal of project elements (October 2023)

Fatal accidents at this intersection have prompted renewed attention to the design of the street and path connections. Recent coverage:

WTHR https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/cycling-advocates-continue-to-push-for-safety-changes-monon-trail-crossing/531-4c7352b8-6e51-4a00-9237-9c1ad5562e0a

Fox 59: https://fox59.com/investigations/here-are-indys-most-dangerous-roads/

Would you like to be involved in the design and execution of a tactical urbanism demonstration project in Nora? Reach out to us or attend our next public meeting.

public art mural on train conductor phone booth Nora Indianapolis Indiana Nora Alliance Monon Trail

Mural on Conductor’s Phone Booth

July 24, 2018

The Conductor’s Phone Booth is a touch of railroad history tucked away on the Monon Trail in Nora. Back when the trains used to run (way before cell phones!) they used to stop here and call ahead to let the next station know they were on their way. The trains are gone, but this well-built concrete phone booth remains. It was manufactured by Permacrete – the company that made many of the telephone booths for railroads.

Today, thanks to many volunteer hours, the phone booth sports a nature-inspired mural. It’s the inaugural artwork this summer as the Nora Alliance Monon Trail Workgroup slowly develops Nora Corners Pocket Park for the community to enjoy.

train conductor's phone booth in Nora Monon Trail — Before – phone booth in 2013

Volunteers painting mural on phone booth

Nora Corners Pocket Park: Phase I

June 12, 2018

Monon @ 86th St Trailhead Beautification

April 28, 2017

We are blessed to have such a fun and energetic group of volunteers who beautified the Monon @ 86th St Trailhead for Earth Day and the Great Indy Cleanup. Thanks to the Nora Alliance and partners for sponsoring the event. And to you beautiful people who volunteered your weekend, a huge thanks to each any every one of you!