City Plans Permanent East 10th Street Redesign

Indianapolis is advancing a permanent redesign of East 10th Street that builds on a tactical urbanism traffic-calming project in Community Heights.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Safety

Wide view of a straight city street with a concrete median and barriers beside a bike lane, lined by brick rowhouses under overcast daylight. — Indianapolis is advancing a permanent redesign of East 10th Street, building on temporary barriers volunteers installed in 2023 that cut crashes by 73 percent. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Indianapolis Department of Public Works announced plans to permanently redesign East 10th Street, building on temporary barriers volunteers installed in 2023 that reduced crashes by 73%. The permanent redesign is 60% complete and is scheduled to begin construction in 2028.

Why it matters

The project marks the city's first permanent redesign originating from a tactical urbanism effort, showing how temporary neighborhood-led traffic calming can inform long-term street infrastructure in Indianapolis. It responds to a 2018 fatal crash during rush hour that residents had long identified as a known safety problem.

Temporary barriers installed in 2023 cut crashes on East 10th Street by 73% and lowered speeds from around 50 mph to 30 to 35 mph, according to the city's findings. Whether the same results will hold once permanent medians and concrete barriers are built has not been established.

The players

Indianapolis Department of Public Works

The city agency responsible for designing, building and maintaining Indianapolis streets, which announced the permanent East 10th Street redesign plans.

Community Heights

An Indianapolis neighborhood whose volunteers led the tactical urbanism project that produced the temporary traffic-calming barriers on East 10th Street.

The details

Volunteers in the Community Heights neighborhood installed temporary barriers along East 10th Street in 2023 through the city's tactical urbanism program, which lets neighborhoods apply for permits and funding for temporary street infrastructure. The barriers stopped drivers from using center turn lanes as passing lanes. The permanent redesign, running between Emerson Avenue and Arlington Avenue, adds medians throughout the street and concrete barriers between the roadway and bike lanes.

2018: A fatal crash occurred on East 10th Street during afternoon rush hour, prompting neighborhood action.
2023: Community Heights volunteers installed temporary traffic-calming barriers on East 10th Street.
Nov. 10: A public meeting was held on the permanent redesign plans.
Dec. 8: An open house on community-powered infrastructure programs is scheduled at the City-County Building.
2028: Construction on the permanent East 10th Street redesign is scheduled to begin.

Seasonal Patterns

The East 10th Street project is the first permanent redesign to emerge from Indianapolis's tactical urbanism permit and funding program, turning a neighborhood pilot into city infrastructure. It shows the program moving from temporary street changes to long-term capital planning.

Residents who want to give input on the East 10th Street design can contact the Department of Public Works at dpwcommunications@indy.gov. Drivers on the corridor should expect slower traffic and watch for the temporary barriers still in place until permanent construction begins.

The takeaway

Temporary street changes tested by residents can offer a proven template for permanent safety upgrades. Readers in Indianapolis neighborhoods can ask their local officials about tactical urbanism permits.

What happens next

A public open house on community-powered infrastructure programs is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the City-County Building, and permanent East 10th Street construction is set to begin in 2028.