Indiana’s governor has outlined a $1 billion plan, which will expand broadband services to the state’s rural areas, create more nonstop international flights from Indianapolis and complete major highway projects.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said Sept. 4 his 2019 Next Level Connections infrastructure agenda also calls for growing the state’s systems of trails as well as pursuing building a new fourth water port at Lawrenceburg and expansion of rail projects in Northwest Indiana.

Through the Next Level Connections program, Holcomb seeks to:

• Commit $100 million to bridge the digital divide in rural areas of the state. The state will create a grant program to bring high speed, affordable broadband access to unserved and underserved areas of the state.
• Utilize $90 million to link communities through more hiking, biking and riding trails. The state will initiate a grant program that encourages local and regional collaboration to grow the state’s trails system.
• Complete major highway projects:
  • Accelerate completion of I-69 Section 6 from 2027 to 2024 ($600 million)
  • Add 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 30 through 2023 ($190 million)
• Focus INDOT resources to clean up the state’s highways
• Establish Indianapolis as the preferred Midwestern destination by adding more nonstop international flights ($20 million)
• Complete evaluation of the purchase of land to develop the state’s fourth port on the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg
• 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, the state said.

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 a 10 year period 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.