When the Town of McCordsville faced rapid suburban growth and increasing demand for safe walking and bicycling options, B&N was engaged to develop an updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that could guide near- and long-term investment in active transportation.
A Data-Driven Roadmap for Active Transportation.
B&N led the update to provide a comprehensive, data-informed framework for expanding and improving the town’s active transportation network. McCordsville, a rapidly growing suburb of Indianapolis, needed a plan that took into account both the present and the future while still being practical, adaptable and focused on the community.
B&N’s role included evaluating existing infrastructure, identifying safety trends and documenting network gaps affecting pedestrians and cyclists. This technical analysis was paired with an inclusive public engagement strategy designed to reach residents, stakeholders and decision-makers through multiple, accessible formats.
Community Engagement Designed to Meet People Where They Are
To ensure the plan reflected local priorities, B&N implemented a flexible engagement approach that reduced participation barriers and broadened input.
Key engagement elements included:
- Pop-up outreach at community events to gather feedback in familiar settings
- Steering committee touchpoints, for members to provide feedback at their own pace
- An interactive online survey to reach residents unable to attend in-person activities
From Vision to Implementation
The plan establishes a cohesive future bicycle and pedestrian network supported by context-sensitive design strategies that reflect local conditions. A prioritized project list, planning-level cost estimates and preliminary engineering for select improvements position the town to advance near-term projects while planning for long-term buildout.
Final deliverables include a clear, user-friendly master plan and supporting GIS tools that enable town staff and leaders to evaluate projects, track progress and make informed investment decisions over time.