Lawmakers discuss road proposals

INDIANAPOLIS – Public transportation systems need to be explored further as Indiana deals with traffic, pollution and energy challenges in the near future, lawmakers said during a hearing on the subject Wednesday.\n“It’s all a matter of priorities,” said Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington. “We control our own destiny.”\nRep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, who helped organize the meeting, said much attention has been focused on Gov. Mitch Daniels’ latest roads proposals, but not much time had been devoted to the topic of public transportation.\nDaniels had proposed seeking private developers to build and operate two tollway bypasses: the 75-mile Indiana Commerce Connector, which would loop around part of Indianapolis, and the Illiana Expressway, which would span 50 miles of northwestern Indiana. But some lawmakers criticized the plans, and Daniels has since said that he would back off the proposals if they prove unpopular with the public.\nAustin said new roads aren’t the only answer to Indiana’s transportation problems.\n“Mass transit must play a part in any future plans,” she said.\nOn Wednesday, lawmakers heard from national, state and local transportation advocates.\nWilliam Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, said mass-transit systems such as light rail have become more popular as service improves and gas prices increase.\n“While we all love our cars, it gets expensive to operate them,” Millar said.\nThe South Shore commuter railroad in northern Indiana had more than 4 million passengers last year, the largest number since 1957, said Gerald Hanas, general manager of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. Hanas said many employees take the commuter railroad to work in Chicago.\n“It’s an important part of the regional economy,” he said.\nBut the Indiana Department of Transportation cautioned that rail services and other mass transit options can be expensive. INDOT Chief of Staff Gil Viets said the department’s job is to find the best solutions to transportation while considering costs. Sometimes, he said, roads are the best option.\n“The capital costs of other modes of transportation can be very high,” he said.\nThe General Assembly is considering several bills dealing with mass transit this year, including one that would require INDOT to conduct a feasibility study of a commuter rail system from Muncie to Indianapolis. Another bill would require INDOT to commission six regional studies on mass transit and would establish a mass-transit legislative study committee.