Local Planning Grant Program 

On August 20, 2025, the IMPO's Transportation Policy Committee approved an award of nearly $475,000 in planning grants to five local public agencies across Central Indiana through its Local Planning Grant Program. The program, which supports transportation and infrastructure planning initiatives, received six applications during the 2025 funding cycle. Five projects were selected, totaling $474,720 in IMPO funding and a 20 percent local match from participating communities.

• Town of Speedway – 16^th Street Multimodal Corridor Study
  Total Cost: $125,000 | IMPO Grant: $100,000
  Study to improve safety and multimodal connectivity on a high-risk arterial corridor serving schools, parks, and transit routes.
• Town of McCordsville – Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan
  Total Cost: $100,000 | IMPO Grant: $80,000
  Updated plan to address pedestrian and bike infrastructure gaps in one of Central Indiana’s fastest-growing communities.
• City of Indianapolis – Arlington Avenue Corridor Study
  Total Cost: $125,000 | IMPO Grant: $100,000
  Visioning and planning study to improve safety and multimodal mobility along Arlington Avenue, including trail connectivity.
• Town of Whitestown – Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update
  Total Cost: $125,000 | IMPO Grant: $100,000
  Plan update to accommodate rapid growth, address safety concerns, and improve access to the Big 4 Trail and other regional connections.
• Hamilton County – 146^th Street and River Road Feasibility Study
  Total Cost: $118,400 | IMPO Grant: $94,720
  Intersection and bridge feasibility study to improve safety and reduce congestion in a high-traffic corridor.

These projects will begin procurement in fall 2025, with planning launching in early 2026. This year marks the beginning of a new annual cycle for the grant program, which previously awarded funding in 2017, 2018, and 2022, resulting in 22 completed plans. The IMPO will collaborate with the selected agencies to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to support project execution.

The Indianapolis MPO has previously provided federal planning dollars to fund local planning projects within the Metropolitan Planning Area. Funded studies were chosen via a competitive project selection process.

2022

• City of Fishers Trails and Greenways Study – The City of Fishers used its grant to produce a citywide trails and greenways study to identify primary pedestrian routes and priority gaps in the pedestrian network. With the new Nickel Plate Trail and Geist Greenway, city leaders sought to expand the Fishers 2040 Bike and Pedestrian Map.
• City of Indianapolis Vision Zero Planning – The City of Indianapolis will complete a Vision Zero Plan
• Charging Greenfield – The City of Greenfield studied and planned for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the community. The plan provides information needed to pursue public-private partnerships for the infrastructure.
• City of Lawrence Capital Improvement Plan & Program – The City of Lawrence will establish a Capital Improvement Plan & Program that prioritizes needed infrastructure projects over 20 years and develops a revenue-constrained list for the first five years of the plan period.
• Charging Lawrence – The City of Lawrence studied and planned for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the community. The plan provides information needed to pursue public-private partnerships for the infrastructure.

2018

• Avon Thoroughfare and Transportation Improvement Plan Update
• Indianapolis Transportation Integration Plan (Phases 1)
• Johnson County Thoroughfare Plan
• Lawrence Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan
• McCordsville Bike and Pedestrian Plan
• Westfield 191^st Street Corridor Programming Study
• Whiteland Southeast Bypass Study

2017

• Boone County CR 300 S Corridor Study
• Brownsburg Transportation and Mobility Plan
• Carmel Workforce Connector Study
• Cumberland Master Transportation Plan
• Franklin Bike and Pedestrian Plan
• Hendricks County Thoroughfare Plan Update
• Indianapolis Transportation Integration Plan (Phases 2)
• McCordsville Bike and Pedestrian Plan
• Plainfield Corridor Study
• Speedway Crawfordsville Rd. Corridor Study