ENGAGE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (INDOT) IN THE EVALUATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE ROADS IN LA PORTE.

Short Range

the design of pedestrian crosswalks and bicycle facilities within urban thoroughfares and shows how these facilities are able to be installed in a safe manner while still maintaining or improving roadway capacities.

Action Steps

1. Continue communication with INDOT’s La Porte District to ensure the City has a voice in future improvements or modifications to all of the City’s State Routes.

A good urban thoroughfare allows for a high level of traffic while buffering adjacent land uses from the negative impacts of traffic such as noise and being sensitive to the pedestrian nature of the urban environment. An urban thoroughfare should also ensure that all-modes of transportation are accommodated. State Roads 2, 39, 4 and State Highway 35 serve as a major arterials for La Porte and the primary access to the entire City. The current roadway configuration, in most cases, is a standard rural two or four-lane roadway. While this configuration works well for rural areas, as La Porte has grown economically and major industries have moved in, increases in intersection traffic and traffic control devices have increased travel times and congestion. Additionally, many of these State Roads serve as key routes for truck traffic trying to get out of the City and to a highway to go to Indianapolis or Chicago. The current configuration is not conducive to bicycle or pedestrian traffic with little to no pedestrian facilities and only a road shoulder bicyclists utilize travel on the roadway which is dangerous with the high volume and traffic speeds.

The Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) jointly created a new design manual called “Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities.” This manual has been endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). While a long title, it does change the engineering paradigm regarding the treatment of high volume corridors such as SR 2, 39, 4 and State Highway 35. The new CNU/ITE manual calls for

2. Take an active role and participate in developing studies for alternative configurations for these routes, but especially for SR2 that will improve flow, but also develop travel options for all modes including bicycles and pedestrians. Adopt these studies as a matter of policy so when INDOT does make design changes, they can incorporate what the City has completed and recommends.

3. Engage businesses along SR 2 and other State Roads to make sure modifications do not negatively impact business operations areas along the corridor, but especially Downtown.

Resources

• INDOT

• NIRPC

• City Planner

• City Engineer

• Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation

• La Porte County Commissioners

• SR 2, SR 39, SR4 and State Highway 35 adjacent businesses

• Federal Highway Administration/Surface Transportation funds/ Transportation Alternatives funds

• Congressional Representatives