Construction Update: Plantings, Intersection Treatments Arriving Soon

East Corridor: Alabama Street from North Street to Market Street
In April and May, look for 61 trees, 528 shrubs, and more than 10,000 other perennials, ornamental grasses, and groundcovers to be planted in the existing plant beds. The intersection treatments will also be completed this Spring. The treatments are special patterns embossed into the asphalt with a product called “Duratherm." Duratherm is a material that is similar to the thermo-plastic that is sometimes used on road surfaces for intersection and lane markings. By embossing the patterns into the asphalt, the material is flush with the pavement, reducing damage from cars or snow-plows. The blue, white, and green design patterns, including the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick logo, provide a continuous Cultural Trail experience from curb to curb and offer another visual sign telling motorists to slow down and yield to Trail users.

Northeast Corridor: North St. and Alabama St., to the Monon Trail and 10th St.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will be scheduling this next phase of Trail construction. At this time, it’s anticipated that the construction of the Northeast Corridor will be bid in July or August with work beginning four to six weeks after the bid has been awarded.

North Corridor: North St. and Alabama St., to Indiana Ave. and Blackford St.
Similar to the Northeast Corridor, INDOT will schedule this corridor for construction and it is anticipated that the construction bidding will be in August or September with work beginning four to six weeks after the bid has been awarded.

Construction on the Northeast and North Corridors will continue through the winter season to be completed by fall 2009. Similar to the East Corridor or Alabama Street construction, every effort will be made to maintain access to all properties and traffic will be maintained along the route during construction.

For more information about the construction schedule visit http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/timeline.html or call 317.713.3333.

March Brown Bag Lunch: March 25

Indianapolis Marion County Public Library, Fountain Square Branch, located at 1066 Virginia Avenue. Our monthly, fourth Tuesday of the month meeting begins at 12:00 noon and ends by 1:00 p.m. Please feel free to bring your own lunch and beverages.

Next Brown Bag: April 22, Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Union Local 416, 748 Massachusetts Ave. (entrance on St. Clair St.; parking available at street meters). For a 2008 schedule, visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/GetInvolved.

Bike Tours Begin Sat., April 5, 10 am to 12 pm

The best way to learn about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is to walk or bike it. Be one of the first to take a tour of the entire 7.5 mile route and learn how the Trail came together, how it will impact our city, and get the latest on its progress. Bike tours are held the first Saturday of April through October. Tours are free and limited to 20 cyclists. For more information or to register, visit www.IndyCulturalTrail.org/GetInvolved.

Meet the NUVO/Cultural Trail Bike Racing Team April 5

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail has teamed with NUVO to support a growing sport in Indianapolis: bicycle racing. Even though the Cultural Trail’s bike lanes are intended for more casual cycling, we both share a common passion for promoting bicycling as a way of life throughout our community.

The NUVO/Cultural Trail cycling team of 20 professional and semi-professional athletes trains year-round to compete in a season of 43 races around the Midwest from March through September. In 2008, the team is vying for its third overall series champion title.

Meet members of the team who will kick off the first bike tour April 5 (no, it’s not a race!). Cheer them on when you see them riding around town in their oh-so-very-chic NUVO/Cultural Trail bike jerseys or attend one of the races: 2008 NUVO/Cultural Trail Cycling Schedule.

Recent National Buzz

In its March 2008 newsletter, Project for Public Spaces (PPS), listed Indianapolis among Melbourne, Zurich, Bogota and Hong Kong as examples of “Bold Moves, Brave Actions.” It refers to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and encourages other cities to look to us for inspiring ideas.

“Great cities don't just happen. They are the result of dedicated citizens and public officials who care about their hometowns and who are wiling to shake things up to make them better places to live, work and play. This almost always involves imaginative innovations, which defy all the conventional wisdom about how to plan cities.”

PPS is a world-renowned New York City-based not-for-profit think-tank specializing in “placemaking” and connecting people to ideas, expertise, and partners who share a passion for creating vital places.

Trail Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what others think about the Cultural Trail and how it will impact our community.

“[The Indianapolis Cultural Trail] is a bridge to our past and our urban future. This is the type of amenity that makes European cities so exciting and livable.

Bravo.”

Tom Williams, Old Northside

Care to share your Trail Testimonial? E-mail it to contact@IndyCulturalTrail.org.