An artist’s rendition shows plans for the intersection of Franklin and Second streets, part of the proposed Second Street Corridor Project.
Second Street Corridor Project
A major traffic artery in the heart of downtown Columbus could soon get some needed upgrades. City leaders and road planners can never please everyone, but the plans we’ve seen for Second Street are commendable forward-thinking improvements.
Drivers who routinely cross the Robert N. Stewart Bridge into downtown Columbus on State Road 46 eastbound, which turns into Second Street, may not realize that they are on the heaviest-traveled section of thoroughfare in Columbus, with the exception of portions of Interstate 65.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, State Road 46 — Second Street eastbound and Third Street westbound through downtown Columbus — carried more than 35,000 vehicles during a one-day traffic count in June 2022. As the busiest east-west artery through our growing city, those traffic counts are likely only going to increase.
Add to that a coming influx of people living in the downtown area, and something has got to give. The Taylor Apartments development at Second and Sycamore streets will add significantly to traffic and possible congestion in this area.
That’s why the traffic-calming plan The Republic’s Jana Wiersema wrote about recently is a well-designed approach to create a more pedestrian-friendly road that also can smooth the safe flow of vehicles through downtown.
The plan officially dubbed the Second Street Corridor Project includes adding 41 on-street parking spaces and much more.
“Plans for the project include narrower lanes, bump outs, additional landscaping, improved pedestrian crossings, on-street parking, improved drainage, new curbs, and 18 new ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Wiersema wrote.
The Columbus Redevelopment Commission last week approved about $1.4 million in funding for the project. The expense will also require approval from Columbus City Council because it exceeds $500,000.
Dave O’Mara Construction submitted the low bid for this work, which the city expects could tally up to as much as $1.4 million. Wiersema reported that if approved, construction could start next spring and finish later in the year.
We believe this is a project City Council should approve and that the city should anticipate as a significant public improvement. Second Street is a state highway, to be sure, but it has the potential to be so much more. It’s central to a changing downtown that soon will become home to lots more people. And building a walkable, pedestrian-friendly road can be done without sacrificing utility and convenience for drivers.
We’re not urban or transit planners, but we can foresee a time when this area might develop into a more vibrant part of downtown. Someday, it might even give motorists a reason to slow down, and maybe even stop for a minute, instead of always just passing through.
