The Indiana Department of Transportation will host regional meetings for city, town and county officials to detail new funding opportunities for local roads and bridges through recent legislation.

In March 2016, Governor Mike Pence signed into law House Enrolled Act 1001 and Senate Enrolled Act 67, which provide more than $1.2 billion in new funding for road and bridge preservation across Indiana, much of which is targeted at improving local roads and bridges.

Cities, towns and counties have received $430 million in Local Option Income Tax distributions that can be used improve local roads and bridges. In addition, as part of HEA1001, INDOT is launching a Local Road and Bridge Matching Grant Fund that provides $186 million in match funding over the next two years to local governments that submit qualifying road and bridge projects. The new funding is in addition to the more than $200 million that INDOT provides to cities, towns and counties each year through the agency’s federal-aid program.

INDOT’s regional meetings will provide details on how to access new funding and answer questions.   Locally county, city and town officials will meet May 31 at the INDOT LaPorte District Office in a morning or afternoon session.

City, town and county officials will learn about projects eligible for funding, how to submit projects for matching funds, deadlines for project submissions, projected timelines for distributing funds, and developing an asset-management plan.