Extending Holt Road Low on DPW's List

(posted July 26)

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works has no official position pertaining to the proposed extension of Holt Road through Credit Union One.

Kit Werbe of DPW said the department was unaware that the extension would eliminate Credit Union One at 4027 W. 10th Street. The department is only aware of the 40 feet south of the roundabout.

"We have not discussed a plan to extend Holt Road south of 10th Street. We would need more information and additional discussion would be necessary before we could provide an official position on this issue."

The SRC's road configuration shows a proposed realignment of Holt Road extending through the bank into Speedway Industrial Park to connect to the proposed roundabout that links into 16th Street.

She also said that the DPW is not aware of taking existing businesses. She said that is a local function with the redevelopment commission. She acknowledged that DPW has signed off on the realignment of 16th Street.

The proposed road alignment became a critical issue for Credit Union One because the building was just built last year. James Dougherty, branch manager, informed the SRC at June 19 meeting that the maps they used are outdated and the proposed Holt Road would go through the bank and not the parking lot as the map indicates.

As of July 25, Dougherty said he has not heard from the SRC if they were going to change the proposed route.

The Speedway Navigator has not received a response from SRC Executive Director Scott Harris if the route has been changed now that the SRC knows the route will go through the credit union.

The SRC hired Ice-Miller to lobby in Washington DC to extend Holt Road north of 16th Street to 30th Street. Ice-Miller charged approximately $34,000 for services to the SRC.

Werbe explained that Holt Road extension to 30th Street would probably be warranted in some point in time, but DPW currently has no plans for completion.

The DPW agreed to do traffic study in August by temporarily closing Georgetown Road for two weeks. The study will analyze the displacement of traffic.