VRA Leadership Team
Mark Walters – President
Aaron Walton – Vice President
Phil Martini- Treasurer
Erin Effler – Secretary
Danielle Prezet – Events Coordinator
Hello and Happy Spring! Here’s hoping the worst of the weather is behind us and we can begin focusing on budding trees and getting our yards ready for outdoor activities!
My note this month will discuss a subject that will have a very significant impact on our Village beginning this year and likely for many years to come. The project is the proposed road realignment initiative—now referred to by the town as “Main Street Momentum.”
The town has created a website with information about the project, which can be accessed here: https://www.mainstmomentumzionsville.com/. I encourage all of you to spend some time reviewing the materials and the proposed plan. Please also share the information with your neighbors so they are aware of what is being considered.
I have spent time reviewing the proposal and discussing it with town leaders. As VRA President, I would like to share a few observations.
First, I believe the town has needed to make changes to the south entrance to the Village for many years. As Zionsville has grown, traffic has increased, and delays when traveling through town at certain times of day can be frustrating at best—and at times potentially dangerous for pedestrians and for emergency vehicles that need to move quickly south through the Village. I do not question the need to address this problem.
What I do question is whether the currently proposed solution is the best one. Moving traffic efficiently through this area is important, but so is maintaining the unique look and character of Zionsville—especially at one of the primary entrances to our town. The proposed design may meet the goal of improving traffic flow, but we should also ask whether it creates an entrance that is appealing, welcoming, and reflective of the character of our brick street and the historic buildings that line it.
My second concern relates to how the town has introduced this project and the impression that residents have had a meaningful opportunity to review and influence the proposal. My understanding, after attending meetings intended to gather public input, is that comments, concerns, and suggestions submitted by residents have not been directly addressed with those who offered them. In addition, the most recent renderings appear largely unchanged from the original concept, aside from the addition of pedestrian walkways and crossings—features that were already under consideration prior to public feedback.
At least one alternative concept was presented to the town and to date, there has been no detailed explanation as to why that concept could not be considered or some of its design elements incorporated.
Finally, the town has invested considerable time and resources studying this issue and has retained an engineering firm with expertise in improving traffic movement. My hope is that, while that expertise is valuable, our town leaders will remain open to other ideas that may provide solutions that are not only efficient, but also more attractive and safer for residents and visitors alike.
We have our next meeting in April, where this topic will be discussed as well as our usual wine and cheese reception and guest merchants who will discuss their businesses. I hope to see you there!!
Regards,
Mark
Mark Walters
President
Zionsville Village Residents Association
president@zvra.com