City-County Council OKs no-turn-on-reds downtown, defying state lawmaker

Clarifications & Corrections: This story has been updated to reflect that the ordinance allows the Department of Public Works or the city fatal crash review team to recommend no-turn-on-red signs at downtown intersections.

The Indianapolis City-County Council Monday night passed a plan aimed at restricting right-hand turns at downtown red light intersections in a bid to protect pedestrians and cyclists amid record high fatalities The vote was 20-5 along party lines, with all Republican councilors voting no.

The move comes after Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman attempted in April to block the city from passing the law by banning Indianapolis from passing ordinances to put up any new no-turn-on-red signs. Gov. Eric Holcomb last month signed this into law.

The ordinance will allow the Department of Public Works or the city's fatal crash review team to recommend no-turn-on-red signs downtown. The DPW must post a 30-day notice of the recommendation before posting no-turn-on-red signage.

The councilors exploited the fact that the law appears to take effect after July 1, which would mean they had Monday's meeting as one last opportunity to pass the plan.

There's some dispute about when the state law takes effect. Freeman said he believes that the law started when the governor signed it, telling IndyStar Friday he thinks the matter will go to litigation and calling the council's idea stupid.

Councilors behind the plan have said it's an evidence-based best practice to prevent pedestrian and cyclist injuries or deaths from drivers turning on red at intersections, but Republicans on the council weren't convinced.

"I think the way we are doing it is just fine, which is why I’d like to leave it," Republican Councilor Michael-Paul Hart said. He said he does not think the city has accurate data to make a determination on to what extent turning on red is the cause of traffic crashes.

By passing the plan, known as Proposal 111, the city has taken advantage of an opportunity to undercut a trend of Indiana Republican senators inserting themselves into how Indianapolis' Democratic officials want to run the city, including everything from trying to prevent IndyGo from expanding transit lines to preventing the city from cracking down on bad landlords.

More: In bid to protect pedestrians, Indy defies state lawmaker to push no-turn-on-red proposal

More: Indianapolis considers defying Indiana law banning new no-turn-on-red stoplights downtown

The areas where no-turn-on-red signs could be put up downtown include streets bounded by 11th Street, Oscar Robertson Boulevard, 10th Street, White River Parkway West Drive, Interstate 70 and Interstate 65. That would include all of Mile Square, Mass Ave downtown, and St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood.

"With the recent increase in reckless driving, my constituents have let me know loud and clear they want the council to take all efforts we can to make sure that our streets and cyclists are as safe as they can possibly be," Councilor John Barth said during the meeting.

The council came up with another work-around to the impending state ban on no-turn-on-reds in Indianapolis.

To give the city power to continue enacting no-turn-on-red restrictions even after July 1, the councilors included "pedestrian safety priority areas" spanning large swathes of the city. The DPW or the city’s fatal crash review team will have the authority to recommend the prohibition of red turns at those intersections. They'll also have to post 30-day notices in any locations where a no-turn-on-red is recommended.

More: Indiana lawmakers move bill to block Indianapolis' no-turn-on-red restriction

Council minority leader Brian Mowery questioned the fact that that amendment was being introduced and voted on Monday night without debate in committee.

The council also unanimously passed three other proposals that will restrict right-hand turns on red at 22nd and Delaware streets, Shadeland Avenue and 71st Street, and Palmer and Meridian streets.

Contact the reporter at 317-903-7071 or kcheang@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: City-County Council OKs no-turn-on-reds, defying state lawmaker