A $2.6 million construction project along East State Boulevard was approved in committee session by Fort Wayne City Council this evening.
City of Fort Wayne Indiana news release:
East State Village Connected Neighborhoods project approved
Project designed to improve safety, support business growthFort Wayne, Indiana (September 15, 2026) – A $2.6 million construction project along East State Boulevard was approved in committee session by Fort Wayne City Council this evening. Final passage is expected September 22, 2026.
The project is part of the East State Village Connected Neighborhoods project, which was proposed by four neighborhoods on Fort Wayne’s near north side to support improvements to East State Boulevard focused on safety and business growth. Mayor Sharon Tucker unveiled the Connected Neighborhoods initiative, which supports collaborative efforts that act as catalysts for neighborhood revitalization, at her February 2025 State of the City.
Along East State Boulevard from Kentucky Avenue to Florida Drive, the project will improve pedestrian safety by installing:
- Wider sidewalks on the north and south sides of East State,
- Landscape buffers between vehicles and sidewalks,
- ADA compliant curb ramps for wheelchairs and strollers,
- Pedestrian signals at crosswalks, and
- 29 new ornamental lights.
Along East State Boulevard from Parnell to Hobson Road, the project will improve vehicle safety by installing:
- A dedicated turn lane. The roadway will be reconfigured from four narrow lanes to three wider lanes, with the center lane serving as a dedicated turn lane.
- Traffic signals that allow for protected left turns.
- Vehicle detection technology that triggers traffic signal changes when vehicles are present.
- A coordinated traffic signal pattern so vehicles do not have to continuously stop and start.
There have been 367 reported vehicle crashes along East State Boulevard between 2021 and 2025; 74 have been sideswipes, 110 involved left turn or angle crashes and 199 were rear-end crashes. Nearly one in every five crashes involved an injury and three pedestrians were killed in crashes along the corridor.
“The number and severity of crashes demand we make changes to improve safety along East State,” said Community Development Director Jonathan Leist. “Not only will this project improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians, but it will also encourage economic growth by making the East State Village corridor more walkable and attractive for customers who visit the restaurants and businesses.”
The East State Village Collaborative includes the Beacon Woods, Forest Park, North Anthony and Northside neighborhoods. After the Collaborative was selected to take part in the Connected Neighborhoods initiative, the Fort Wayne Department of Neighborhoods led planning efforts to determine the scope of the work and gathered input from residents through mailings, two public meetings, two neighborhood meetings and an online survey. More than 500 engagements with residents showed support for wider sidewalks and landscaping along East State Boulevard, as well as strategies to slow traffic.
The work is also recognized as a priority in the Historic Northeast 2035 Plan, which engaged more than 1,100 residents and was adopted in 2024.
Funding for the project comes from the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission capital fund and the local income tax. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be complete at the end of October, 2027. More information can be found online.
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