September 5, 2018
Governor Holcomb will be at the new INDOT Sub-district in Plymouth on Wednesday afternoon to announce his infrastructure agenda plan for 2019, including a new $1 billion investment in infrastructure projects. The Next Level Connections program will expand broadband services in rural Indiana, grow the state’s systems of trails, create more nonstop international flights, and move up the completion of major highway projects. The state also will continue to pursue building a new fourth water port and expansion of rail projects.
Governor Holcomb will commit $100 million to bridge the digital divide in rural areas of the state. Utilize $90 million to link communities through more hiking, biking and riding trails and complete major highway projects including the addition of new interchanges on U.S. 31 between South Bend and Indianapolis and expand the number of projects that will be completed on U.S. 20 and U.S. 30 through 2023 dedicating $190 million.
Also on his list is the accelerated completion of I-69 Section 6 from 2027 to 2024 ($600 million), focus INDOT resources to clean up the state’s highways and establish Indianapolis as the preferred Midwestern destination by adding more nonstop international flights ($20 million). Other projects are the complete evaluation of the purchase of land to develop the state’s fourth port on the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg and pursue federal funding for the West Lake and South Shore rail projects in Northwest Indiana.
The Indiana Finance Authority will amend its agreement with the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company (ITRCC), which operates the Indiana Toll Road, to allow ITRCC to increase the toll rates for heavy vehicles by 35 percent, beginning in October. The $1 billion in proceeds from the amended ITRCC agreement will be used to fund planned road projects in the seven Toll Road counties, which will free up INDOT resources to be directed to the Next Level Connections program.
As a part of the new agreement, ITRCC will put $50 million into additional Toll Road upgrades, including safety, technology and communications initiatives such as a smart truck parking system and expansion of overhead message boards, cameras and variable speed signs. Over 10 years, by 2025, ITRCC will invest more than $500 million in Toll Road upgrades.
“Improvements on the Toll Road, on Highways 20, 30 and 31 will make our roads safer for truck and vehicle traffic alike and enhance economic development opportunities,” said Gov. Holcomb.
The toll increase will impact Class 3 and above vehicles. For example, the tolls for a Class 3 vehicle will increase from $16.33 to $22.04 (electronic card) for the entire 157-mile trip. For a Class 5 vehicle, the toll will increase from $44.46 to $60.02. The IFA will consider the agreement at a meeting later this month. With the increase, the rate per mile will remain lower than nearly all other similar roads across the country.
For more information, go to www.in.gov/gov.