INDOT, consultants propose displaced pedestrian crossings and early-left turns on US 36 to ease congestion and improve safety

Avon Town Council heard a detailed presentation from INDOT consultants on May 14 about the next design phase of the US 36 corridor, which proposes adding displaced pedestrian crossings with early left-turns and U‑turn opportunities at strategic midblock locations to reduce vehicle–pedestrian conflicts and improve traffic flow.

The proposal covers the segment from Shiloh Park Drive west to County Road 671 and would add displaced crossings at Harvest Landing (existing) and three new locations: Avon Village Parkway, Gordon Drive and Shiloh Park Drive. Lisa Castler, the engineering consultant for DCCM, said only the Crowderman Court–Shiloh Park Drive section currently has construction funding and that the design team developed solutions to respond to repeated public-hearing comments asking for safer north–south crossings and better access where a concrete median limits turns.

Traffic analyst Amanda Johnson walked council through travel‑time and level‑of‑service projections. She said the displaced‑crossing alternative reduces conflict points for pedestrians compared with standard signalized intersections and improves corridor operations in one or both directions. "At a single crosswalk location a standard intersection ... would have five conflict points," Johnson said, explaining that displaced locations typically have only two conflict movements, lowering crash risk for pedestrians.

A simulation shown to the council compared the scenario that allows pedestrian crossings only at main signalized intersections with an alternative that relocates north–south crossings to displaced locations plus added travel lanes and early lefts. The presenter showed the main‑intersection scenario produced significant queuing that blocks turn lanes, while the displaced‑crossing model avoided much of that queueing. "The eastbound direction here never stops unless a pedestrian calls to be served," the presenter said, describing how the displaced facility operates similarly to a partial signal that serves pedestrians or left turns as needed.

Council members pressed staff on pedestrian counts and distances between crossings. Staff said there were no formal pedestrian‑count data for north–south crossings on US 36 because the corridor currently lacks pedestrian facilities, and that the design is planning for future pedestrian demand. Consultants also noted two pedestrian fatalities on US 36 in the past year as a factor in considering additional crossings.

Design details described to the council include measures to prevent unsafe U‑turns or wrong‑way movements: raised concrete medians where necessary, 'no U‑turn' signing at some signals, and coordination with Avon Fire Department for turning radii so emergency vehicles can use designated U‑turn locations. Consultants also said right‑turn‑on‑red would be prohibited at displaced pedestrian crossings to remove a common pedestrian conflict.

The project team said the next steps include further design development, continued coordination with town staff on sidewalks and signage to direct pedestrians to the new crossings, and additional neighborhood outreach. Because only one corridor section currently has construction funding, consultants emphasized the staged nature of the project and the need to secure further funding and complete detailed design before construction for the newly described segments.

The council did not take a formal vote on the INDOT package; staff said they will continue design and community coordination and return with further details as the design advances.