ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. III, ch. 744, art. III

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-301 General standards.

Sec. 744-301. - General standards. A. Access to accessory parking areas. After the first day of the month that is six months after the date of adoption, if a lot abuts an improved alley and the street frontage is less than 200 feet, vehicle access to that lot shall be exclusively from that alley. B. Greenway access. If a site abuts a greenway, pedestrian access must be provided in accordance with the Indy Greenways Full Circle 2014-2024 Master Plan, unless the Administrator determines that access in that location is not practicable due to site, utility or topography constraints. C. Bicycle or pedestrian paths. Where plans adopted by the city show a bicycle or pedestrian path or trail, the site design shall provide connections to those paths or trails. Any requests by the city for designation or dedication of land for bicycle or pedestrian trails within a proposed development shall comply with all applicable provisions of federal and Indiana state law. D. Safe routes to school. Where a safe routes to school route associated with the federal or Indiana Safe Routes to School program is adjacent to the boundaries of a development or redevelopment involving residential uses, the project design shall provide connections to the designated school route and shall dedicate right-of-way to accommodate the provision of the route. Any requests by the city for designation or dedication of land for the designated school route within a proposed development shall comply with all applicable provisions of federal and Indiana state law. E. Cul-de-sac pedestrian access. Whenever cul-de-sac streets are created, a 15-foot wide pedestrian access/public utility easement shall be provided between the cul-de-sac head or street turnaround and the sidewalk system of the closest adjacent street or pedestrian sidewalk or pathway, unless the Administrator determines that public access in that location is not practicable due to site, utility or topography constraints. [image omitted; see the official code] Diagram C Pedestrian Access from cul-de-sac F. On-site connectivity. 1. Walkways to sidewalks. For two-family dwellings and single-family attached dwellings, walkways from the sidewalk system shall be provided to each dwelling unit. For all other buildings, at least one walkway from the sidewalk system shall be provided to each public pedestrian entrance. 2. Internal connectivity. Within a freestanding lot, project or integrated center, hard-surfaced walkways shall be provided in accordance with a pedestrian plan that shall include a walkway system that functionally connects all of the building's main front entrances with the sidewalk located in the public right-of-way of each of the freestanding lot or integrated center's eligible public streets. Nonresidential and mixed-use developments containing more than one primary building on a single lot shall include an unobstructed walkway or pathway at least five (5) feet wide providing access between the primary buildings. 3. Markings. Such private walkways shall provide for identifiable pedestrian crossing markings, such as change in paving material, color, or height, along the functional pedestrian routes wherever the route crosses an interior access drive, street, drive-through lane, or parking lot. [image omitted; see the official code] [image omitted; see the official code] G. Waiver of sidewalks. In locations where site conditions cause extreme difficulty in the construction of sidewalks, the Administrator may, upon written request, waive that portion of sidewalks. Examples of extreme difficulty include, but are not limited to, waterway crossings, significant elevation change, existing deep drainage swales in the right-of-way, and grades steeper than 3:1. The request shall include supporting documentation. The waiver would be pursuant to a written agreement and subject to a contribution in lieu of sidewalks that shall be made to the City for the provision of sidewalks in Marion County. The rate amount shall be set annually. (G.O. 64, 2015, § 2; G.O. 37, 2018, § 11)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-302 Construction of sidewalks in the right-of-way.

Sec. 744-302. - Construction of sidewalks in the right-of-way. A. Sidewalks and any alternative pedestrian walkway shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. B. Sidewalks shall consist of the walkway and any curb ramps or blended transitions. C. Width of sidewalks, exclusive of the width of any curb, landscape area or amenity zone, must be at least the width indicated in Table 744-302-1: Minimum Sidewalk Widths. The sidewalk shall be unobstructed, except as detailed in the Sidewalk Zone provisions of the Thoroughfare Plan. Table 744-302-1 Minimum Sidewalk Widths District | Street Classifications | Minimum Sidewalk Width D-S, D-A, D-1, D-2, D-3, and D- 4, D-6 and D-7 | Collector, Local, and Cul-de-sac | 6' All other streets | 6' D-5, D-5II, D-8, D-9, and D-10 | Local Streets | 6' Collector and Arterial Streets | 8' CBD, MU Districts, and C Districts in the TOD Secondary District | Buffer Frontages and/or Local Streets | 6'—8' Commuter Frontages and/or Collector Streets | 8'—12' Pedestrian Frontages and/or Arterial Streets | 12'—20' All other streets | All streets | 6' * See Sidewalk Zone provisions and standards in the Thoroughfare Plan for specific streetscape designs strategies for various street types, and contexts. D. Sidewalks shall meet the Standards for Street and Bridge Design and Construction (G.O. 49, 1972/Standards for Acceptance of Streets and Bridges of the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana), except as indicated otherwise herein. E. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of four inches in thickness of Portland cement concrete, except where sidewalks cross concrete drives or driveways the thickness shall be a minimum of six inches, conforming to subsection 604 of the current Indiana Department of Transportation Design Standards and Specifications. Sidewalks along frontages that are identified in the Indy Greenways Full Circle 2014-2024 Master Plan, Marion County Comprehensive Plan, or Indy Parks Connectivity Plan as a greenway or linear path may be constructed with alternate materials and depth standards as approved by the Administrator. F. Sidewalks shall be provided along the entire frontage of all abutting eligible public streets, excepting freeways and expressways as indicated in the current Official Thoroughfare Plan for Marion County, Indiana, and other full control of access frontages as determined by the Administrator. G. Unless a different location is approved by the Administrator, the sidewalks shall generally be provided within the public right-of-way, one foot from the right-of-way line. The Sidewalk Zone provisions of the Thoroughfare Plan provide more specific design details for design of specific street types and rights-of-way conditions. H. Where sidewalks exist in the public right-of-way in front of an adjacent lot and extend to a point equal to the common lot line extended, the sidewalks shall fully connect with such existing sidewalks on the adjacent property to provide a continuous, unobstructed walkway along the public street. (G.O. 64, 2015, § 2; G.O. 26, 2021, § 9)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-303 Single- and two-family sidewalk standards.

Sec. 744-303. - Single- and two-family sidewalk standards. The following standards apply for residential areas that were approved without the provision of sidewalks. A. When a lot is part of an approved major residential subdivision that includes or required sidewalks, sidewalks must be installed. B. When a single-family detached dwelling, single-family attached dwelling, two-family dwelling, triplex or fourplex is constructed on a freestanding lot, a sidewalk must be provided only if either one of the adjacent lots has a sidewalk installed. A sidewalk along each frontage shall be provided and connect with each existing sidewalk on an adjacent property. (G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-304 Sidewalk standards for other development.

Sec. 744-304. - Sidewalk standards for other development. A. All "places of public accommodation," as defined in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et. seq.) shall comply with the requirements of that act concerning on-site circulation and access. B. New development. Sidewalks, as prescribed in this Chapter 744, Article III, shall be provided in connection with the initial development of a freestanding lot or integrated center when a building is constructed, erected, or relocated. Sidewalks shall be provided for the reconstruction of a freestanding lot or integrated center upon which at least two-thirds of all buildings have been removed, demolished, or destroyed. C. Redevelopment or additions. When improvements are proposed for a freestanding lot or integrated center upon which a building on a permanent foundation exists prior to July 1, 2008; or, a lot upon which no building on permanent foundation exists and is located within an integrated center upon which a building on a permanent foundation exists prior to July 1, 2008, sidewalks for the redevelopment or the additions shall be provided as prescribed in this Chapter 744, Article III and in compliance with the following regulations: 1. Sidewalks shall be required when a building is constructed, erected, enlarged, extended, reconstructed, relocated, or converted to a commercial use; except a building that was destroyed or damaged by fire or natural causes and is reconstructed on substantially the same foundation and of substantially the same gross floor area. 2. Sidewalks shall be provided at a minimum rate of five linear feet of sidewalk per 100 square feet or fraction thereof of the gross floor area of the constructed, erected, enlarged, extended, reconstructed, or converted to a commercial use, or relocated building or addition. The linear amount of sidewalk required shall not exceed the cumulative length of the eligible public streets of the freestanding lot or integrated center, excepting freeways and expressways as indicated in the current Official Thoroughfare Plan for Marion County, Indiana, and other full control of access frontages as determined by the Administrator. 3. The provision of the sidewalks shall be in accordance with the following options with the first option being preferred: a. Sidewalks shall be constructed; or b. Pursuant to a written agreement, a contribution in lieu of sidewalks shall be made to the City for the provision of sidewalks in Marion County. The amount shall be $60.00 per linear foot of required sidewalk. The rate per linear foot shall be increased by $3.00 annually beginning January 1, 2017. 4. Where this Section 744-304.C. would result in the partial installation of sidewalks along an eligible public street, the Administrator shall determine the location along the eligible public street where the sidewalks shall be installed. The criteria for the sidewalk location shall be the greatest improvement to the public health, safety, welfare and convenience. 5. The provision of the sidewalks shall be required for each addition to the site until the sidewalks are constructed along all eligible frontages or the equivalent contribution has been made for the sidewalks. 6. A through block sidewalk at least five feet wide shall be provided near the middle of any block face longer than 800 feet in order to provide connections with streets on either side of the block, unless the ownership of adjacent parcels would prevent the walkway from connecting to a public sidewalk or the Administrator determines that the walkway is not practicable due to site, utility, or topography constraints. (G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-305 Private street and interior access drives.

Sec. 744-305. - Private street and interior access drives. Private streets and interior access drives must meet the minimum standards for construction, materials for use in construction, and design as specified by the Standards for Street and Bridge Design and Construction (Standards for Acceptance of Streets and Bridges; G.O. 49, 1972 of the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana) and Chapter 691 of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County. Provided, however, that theses standard specifications are modified as follows: A. Curbing shall not be required unless required by storm drainage improvements. B. The minimum width of pavement, including curb and gutter, if provided, for private streets and interior access drives must be provided in accordance with Table 744-306-1. Table 744-305-1: Minimum width of private street pavement, to back of curb, if provided Direction of traffic | On-street Parking provision | Minimum width One-way | No parking | 12 feet One-way | One side only | 20 feet Two-way | No parking | 20 feet Two-way | One side only | 27 feet Two-way | Both sides | 36 feet C. The owner or project management, homeowners' association or other similar organization (not by a governmental agency) must maintain all sidewalks, pedestrian ways, private streets, interior access drives and parking areas in good condition and repair reasonably free of chuckholes, standing water, weeds, dirt, trash, mud, ice and snow and debris. (G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)

Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH744DEST_ARTIIIACCOFetched: 10/27/2026