46 INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN 2020 PLANNING DOWNTOWN�fS FUTURE TODAY MOVING AROUND DOWNTOWN Parking According to Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. records, in 2002, the Regional Center contained a total of nearly 85,000 parking spaces.  The IUPUI campus contains more than 16,000 of these spaces, leaving 68,255 spaces Downtown. Parking meters on the streets account for 3,255 spaces with the remaining 65,000 spaces divided among public and private garages and lots.  A total of 49,651 parking spaces are located within the Mile Square.  Traditionally, the City and Downtown interests have looked to the private sector to meet the majority of the Downtown's parking needs.  The City, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. and others continue to monitor the parking situation to determine if additional incentives or assistance are needed to provide adequate parking. Street Network The traffic flow within the Regional Center increasing at a rate of approximately one-half of one percent every year.  Traffic congestion on area streets is not a system-wide problem and most streets within the Regional Center are functioning adequately, providing a stable volume at relatively high speeds even during peak hour traffic periods In attempting to create more efficient street patterns and lessen the impact on air quality, the Indianapolis DPW has done the following: synchronized Regional Center traffic signals, added turn lanes at problem intersections, introduced one-way streets, restricted on-street parking during rush hours, assisted in ridesharing efforts and encouraged staggered work hours.   IndyGo's efforts are also important to reducing traffic levels Circulation To provide better circulation and access, the IUPUI Campus Planning Framework proposes to reconfigure the University's internal street systems into a traditional grid pattern.  West Drive and Union Street will extend from 10^th Street to New York Street.  Barnhill Drive will extend from Michigan Street to New York Street.   Also, on the west edge of campus, a new road is proposed west of Veterans Hospital connecting Porto Allegre to provide access from 10^th Street to New York Street. In order to increase accessibility to the life science research community, road reconfiguration is recommended in a portion of the Stadium Drive District west of Stadium Drive.  In order to access 16^th Street, White River Parkway is extended north and IUPUI's West Drive is extended north crossing Fall Creek and continuing through the Stadium Drive District.   Other minor roads will be aligned to create more appropriate block dimensions for research and institutional facilities. The Market Square Vicinity Implementation Plan recommended studying the impact of removing the Interstate entrance and exit ramps at Market Street.  These existing ramps are a physical and psychological barrier to the Downtown's eastside and the removal of the ramps will incorporate pedestrian infrastructure improvements, linking the city's near-east neighborhoods.  A proposed alternative consists of construction of new Interstate entrance and exit ramps at Washington Street along with reconstruction of the Washington Street and Southeastern Avenue intersection.   It is also recognized that the following street segments are important components of the Regional Center circulation network: Fort Wayne Avenue; St. Clair Street; White River Parkway Drive between 16^th and Michigan Street; and Belmont Avenue between White River Parkway Drive and 10^th Street.  Additional analysis should be conducted to determine the significance these street segments within the context of the Regional Transportation Plan. Along with these specific transportation related initiatives, Downtown circulation patterns need to be maintained to allow circulation and access throughout the Regional Center.  There has been an increase in demand for the usage of streets creating competition among automobiles, mass transportation, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, loading zones, taxicab stands, on-street parking and special events.  It is important to evaluate the impact of proposed changes in the street rights-of-way to minimize pressure on the circulation network. World Wonder Garage at Circle Centre mall MAP M-3 LEGEND Concept sketch from the Regional Center East Urban Design Workshop of an eco-parking garage Parking Structures* *Numbers listed are the spaces within the parking structure; residential structured parking associated with individual housing units not shown. Source: Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Surface Parking Lots