Nora’s College Avenue Trail Approved and Funded

We learned this week that the College Avenue Trail in Nora has been funded as part of the RebuildIndy 2 projects. While the project was originally approved, it lost its funding and was cancelled last winter. Recent funding was acquired and the project was again added to the list of approved projects announced last week.

The project will provide a safe pedestrian off-street trail along this often congested section of College Ave. that has no sidewalks or shoulder.

RebuildIndy is Mayor Greg Ballard’s initiative to restore deteriorating streets, sidewalks and bridges as well as address neighborhood drainage and flooding issues. This investment continues to transform neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis.

Getting an off-street pedestrian trail or new sidewalks in a community can take years of hard work. Indeed, for the past 3- to 4- years several people in Nora have been advocating for an off-street trail along College Avenue between 86th Street and 91st Street. Some of the people involved in spearheading the trail include George Robinson, former athletic director at First Baptist Church, Barry Wood, and members of Hope Church. It serves as an example of what community pro-active planning can achieve.

Early details on the project are provided by Benjamin Easley, Public Information Officer / Department of Public Works:

• This project will indeed be bid for construction in July and completely built by the end of the year.
• The College Avenue Trail will be an off-street asphalt trail similar to the one on 91^stStreet.  The trail on 91^st Street narrows down to a sidewalk at 91^st/College
• There will be a crosswalk connection at the signal at 91^st/College.
• The College Ave trail will be on the west side of the road.
• There will be pedestrian signals at 86^th/College as well as 91^st/College.

Thanks to ReBuildIndy, DPW, and all the people involved in making this trail happen.