As Indianapolis thrives with a rising population and balanced budgets, residents are increasingly frustrated by deteriorating roadways, unmaintained bridge sidewalks and pedestrian safety issues.
The 2025 Indianapolis budget is the largest one the city-county council has considered to date, totaling $1.6 billion in spending. The signed proposal allocates funds for pedestrian safety, pay raises for first responders and a fully funded IMPD.
“The state had a net inflow of nearly 22,500 residents last year, which is the third consecutive year this measure topped the 20,000-residents mark,” said Matt Kinghorn, senior demographer at the Indiana Business Research Center.
Despite Indianapolis’s significant population growth, its infrastructure has struggled to keep pace, often leaving pedestrians vulnerable. Many city streets lack adequate sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting, creating unsafe conditions for residents navigating increasingly congested areas.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Indiana ranks below the national average of roads in ‘good’ condition, with 37% reportedly in need of repair in 2021. In the report, nearly 6% of Indiana’s bridges were reported ‘structurally deficient.’
Shari Himes, Indy resident and biker, has encountered several areas in the city where bridges are neglected, sidewalks are impassable and biking is dangerous, namely the East 38th St. Bridge between Fall Creek Parkway and Sutherland on the city’s northeast side.
“There’s some parts of the bridge where you can literally see right through it below,” Himes said.
The most recent inspection of this bridge in January 2023 listed the condition of the bridge as “fair” despite the bridge railings, approach guardrails and bridge transition points being marked as “does not meet standards.”
Melissa Napier, who lives near the 38th St. Bridge, says she is afraid to take her children on it.
“I can’t even take (my children) on walks because the stroller can be hard to steer and there’s no room,” she said. “My toddler could take one step and get hit.”
Like the bridges, many Indy roads and sidewalks are not up to pass. Stephanie Patterson, member of Black Girls Do Bike, said her biking has taken her all around the city, where she has seen first-hand the lack of pedestrian safety.
“There’s some areas where if you stumble or lose your balance (on the sidewalk), you’ll fall right into the street,” Patterson said.
Himes also discussed the IndyGo’s Purple Line, which had an estimated budget of $188 million, but several of the stations, like the Orchard Purple Line Station near the 38th St. Bridge, are inaccessible and dangerous to get to.
A problem that IndyGo spokesperson Carrie Black said was being addressed in the building of the project.
“As part of the project, we’ve put in newly-paved roads — 26 lane miles of newly paved roads, 9 miles of new and replaced sidewalks, new ADA curve ramps,” Black said. “Even if you never ride the bus, you are still going to benefit from this project.”
Like the Purple Line Project, the Vision Zero Initiative aims to improve roadway safety, accessibility and transportation.
“The idea of Vision Zero is a commitment to zero traffic fatalities by the year 2035,” said Natalie Van Dongen, deputy director for policy and planning at the Department of Public Works.
The taskforce held their first meeting Oct. 23, with the next one scheduled for December. In the coming months, appointees will meet with local leaders from other areas who have implemented Vision Zero and work to build a plan to improve roadway safety. The formation of the task force accounts for $305 million of the 2025 budget.
Additionally, $246 million of the budget is allocated to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works for roadway improvements and trail additions. While the breakdown of the city-council adopted budget specifies that $66 million will go towards “transportation general,” the exact projects are not outlined, leaving residents like Napier waiting for improvements.
“I just hope it gets fixed,” Napier said. “It’s just a mess … I don’t understand.”
To view the Vision Zero toolkit, visit indympo.org. For more information about the 2025 budget, visit indy.gov/activity/city-and-county-budget.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
