Background

In 2017, the City of Fishers stood with the Mayor of Noblesville and Hamilton County Commissioners to announce a new vision for the Nickel Plate Railroad corridor to convert the underutilized track to trail. Since the announcement, the City of Indianapolis has also joined the collaborative effort.  In the summer of 2017, the owners of the Nickel Plate Railroad, who include Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County, filed an application to the federal government to allow what is known as rail-banking.  Rail-banking allows owners of vacant railroads the ability to utilize the railroad right-of-way for trail purposes. On December 21, 2018, the Federal Surface Transportation Board granted the owners final rail-banking and trail sponsorship authority.

In anticipation of the rail-banking approval, last year the City of Fishers formed a master planning committee for the Nickel Plate Trail (NPT). Through its community engagement and outreach, the City received over 1,500 individual ideas from residents about what they would like to see on the trail. The Committee worked with more than 200 HSE Schools students on classroom projects and held dozens of meetings, including with adjacent neighborhoods like yours.

While we continue beautifying the existing trail with benches, pet waste stations, trash bins, and informational signage, we are also working to complete trail connectivity along 106th Street between Hague Road and existing NPT trail pathways.  Thus far we have added additional connections from the Berkely Grove neighborhood as well as a connection at Westpoint Drive. 

Steward Program

While the Department of Public Works will track and monitor any maintenance needs along the trail regularly, the City of Fishers also hosts a volunteer program known as the Nickel Plate Trail Stewards Program. The program is a partnership between the City, residents, and businesses to work together to protect and preserve the condition of the trail. Each Steward is responsible for “adopting” one of eight sections of the trail to perform monthly quality checks and cleanups and report back any trail concerns. If you or someone you know is interested in more information on becoming a steward, please visit volunteerfishers.com or reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Amy Crell, at CrellA@fishers.in.us. When you see the trail steward out cleaning up the trail, be sure to say hello! 

Yard Waste Disposal 

Recently, we have noticed increased dumping of yard waste between the rear of private property and the trail. No dumping is allowed in public rights of way. There are a few solutions available to you to properly dispose of yard waste: 

•    Free composting for yard waste and other compostable materials at the Fishers AgriPark. Visit playfishers.com/Agripark for more information.

•    Free compost tumblers are available from Fishers DPW’s Stormwater Division. Applications are required and tumblers are limited to the first 300 applicants. Find more information at thisisfishers.com/KFB. 

•    Free single-use composting bins with replaceable liners are available for pickup at the Fishers AgriPark. For more information, visit playfishers.com/AgriPark.

Questions?  

Please do not hesitate to contact us by email. If you would prefer to receive updates by email, please select the link above and complete the email submission form.  

NPT Neighbor Resources

NPT Adjacent Resident Screening & Privacy Grant Program

For those who live in a single-family home on property directly adjacent to the trail (i.e. your property line touches the trail right of way), the City is offering a grant program that may go toward installing screening, privacy, or buffering through landscaping or fencing on the resident’s private property, up to $2,000 per private property. 

We have created an easy-to-use application that combines both the screening grant and trail connection application into one to save you time.

The City has created an exhibit outlining property lines, drainage easements, and possible planning level screening and landscaping improvement locations to prevent water flow and storm sewer maintenance access from being blocked. Final permitted screening and landscape locations will be determined through the permit process after an on-site review. View the exhibit.

How to Apply:

Determine what type of improvements you would like (fencing, landscaping, other) and where.  

Fishers will reimburse up to $2,000 per property to go towards installing screening, privacy, or buffering improvements. Our staff can help walk you through what options would be possible for your property’s unique characteristics. We recognize there may be drainage easements or other utilities in rear yards that you have questions about. Our Public Works Department will review any improvements within a drainage easement for concerns related to drainage flow and storm sewer protection and maintenance access.

Submit online application here.  

Once the application has been received, staff will review and present the improvements to the Board of Public Works for approval. Applicants are notified of approval via e-mail.

Install improvements. 

Applicants have twelve (12) months to install improvements. Applicants are responsible for project completion and full payment prior to submitting receipts for reimbursement.

Submit proof of project completion and receive reimbursement.

Fishers will mail a check of the awarded amount to the property owner upon proof of completion of the project.

Please contact Planning & Zoning, by email or at 317.595.3155 with any questions.

If you would like a staff member to reach out to discuss more about the screening/privacy grant or the trail connections, or if you have additional questions/concerns about an existing screening/connection. Please check out our FAQ below for possible answers to your questions or submit your information here. 

Connecting to the NPT

The City has coordinated with Duke Energy, which has an easement over the trail area, to develop a permitting process that allows adjacent properties to connect directly to the trail. The trail connection application is now open to properties along the paved portions of the trail from 106^th Street to 146^th Street. For properties adjacent to unpaved portions of the trail, a trail connection will be available once paving occurs. HOA-owned properties should work directly with Duke Energy on a trail connection.

Trail connections are $200 and include a crushed stone trail or stairs from the property line to the trail, a drainage culvert (if needed), and complimentary labor from the Fishers Department of Public Works. Trail connections are not guaranteed and are subject to an onsite review to ensure they can be done safely and sustainably. Residents are not permitted to establish their own trail connections outside of this permitting process.

The trail connection application has been combined with the screening grant application to save you time. You can apply for both programs here.

Lighting, Hours, and Public Safety on the NPT

Fishers Police Department has been a stakeholder and member of the master planning committee for the NPT from day one. The downtown portion of the NPT from South Street to Lantern Road (near the Library) will be open later, longer and have more lighting to create a destination experience. Outside of the downtown area, the trail will have similar hours as all Fishers Parks that are open from dawn to dusk.  

View the Draft Master Plan for Fishers NPT

The result of the committee’s eight months of work is a draft master plan that imagines a destination trail for experiences with art, nature, education, technology, and downtown vibrancy. The draft master plan, known as Fishers Nickel Plate Trail 2040, was presented to City Council on Monday, February 18. While the trail may be constructed in Fishers in the next few years, this master plan is a long-range vision for how amenities could develop along the trail over time. 

The NPT is a connector of people, as well as a connection to our heritage. Together, we have an opportunity to honor our history while embracing our future and create a trail system that promotes wellness, discovery, and community all year long.

For further questions, please contact the City of Fishers by email. Our staff stands ready to continue to meet with you throughout this project and to answer questions you may have.

FAQs

What is the Nickel Plate Trail?
The Nickel Plate Trail is a paved walking and bicycling trail on the former Nickel Plate Railroad. Currently, the Fishers portion stretches from 106^th Street up to 146^th Street. The trail will eventually extend into Indianapolis and Noblesville.

When will the trail be completed?
The Master Plan was completed at the end of March 2019. Construction of the Fishers portion of the trail began in the spring 2020. Paving has now been completed from 106^th Street to 146^th Street, including the new pedestrian tunnel beneath 116^th Street. These paved portions are open for pedestrian and bicycle access. 

In spring 2022, the City of Fishers was awarded $4.5 million by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) via the Next Level Trails Grant for the construction of the remaining 1.3 miles of the Nickel Plate Trail from 96^th to 106^th Street as well as completing connectivity along 106^th Street between Hague Road and the recently constructed Nickel Plate Trail. In the coming months, the City will begin designing the additions to the trail, including a pedestrian bridge over 96^th Street connecting the trail to Indianapolis. The City is exploring a phased approach that would allow the construction of the Nickel Plate Trail between Hague Road and 106^th Street to potentially occur as early as Spring 2023.

How much did the trail cost?
There have been two phases of the trail construction to date. The first phase included master planning and design for the entire trail; trail construction and amenities from North Street to 141^st Street and South Street to 106^th Street; and the neighborhood buffer program. The cost for this phase was $6,649,436. The second phase included construction of the downtown portion of the trail from North Street to South Street, including the tunnel beneath 116^th Street; retaining walls and the northern and southern approach; downtown trail amenities; security; and finishes. This phase was estimated at $13.75 million but was completed under budget at $13,102,235.To date, both phases of the Trail were achieved for a total of $19,751,671.

The City’s investment in the Nickel Plate Trail not only gives residents a new way to explore and engage their community, but has also supported the creation of 750 new jobs at an average starting salary of $85,000, and total $210,000,000 worth of investment into our community.

I live along the trail and am concerned about privacy. What can the City do to help?
For those who live in a single-family home on property directly adjacent to the trail (i.e. your property line touches the trail right of way), the City offers a grant program that may go toward installing screening, privacy or buffering through landscaping or fencing on the resident’s private property, up to $2,000 per private property. Additionally, property owners may opt-in to a direct trail connection via their property. Property owners can apply for the grant program and to establish a trail connection here.

Will having a new public amenity like this impact property values?
Studies have shown that transformational projects like this can increase property values.

I’m a property owner along the trail and I’d like to potentially connect to the trail from my property. What’s the process for this?
The City has coordinated with Duke Energy, which has an easement over the trail area, to develop a permitting process that allows adjacent properties to connect directly to the trail. The trail connection application is now open for properties along the paved portions of the trail from 96^th Street to 146^th Street. Apply here. 

Trail connections are $200 and include a crushed stone trail or stairs from the property line to the trail, a drainage culvert (if needed), and complimentary labor from the Fishers Department of Public Works. Trail connections are not guaranteed and are subject to an onsite review to ensure they can be done safely and sustainably. Residents are not permitted to establish their own trail connections outside of this permitting process.

Did the City look into keeping the railroad track alongside the trail?
Yes, the City of Fishers commissioned a study of the corridor to assess the feasibility of this option. The study can be found here. In summary, this option was feasible with the acquisition of a portion of or complete elimination of over 100 properties and buildings along the trail. Even without the cost associated with building the trail, this option would have added an additional $20.5 million in property impacts, pedestrian bridges, trail embankments, retaining walls, and the required 6’ security fencing between the trail and the track.

What ever happened to the Nickel Plate Express?
It now operates out of Noblesville and runs year-round. You can find more about the excursion train here.