Daniels outlines plans for highways

Indiana has finalized plans to distribute almost all new highway infrastructure funding to modernization projects across the state.    

Gov. Mitch Daniels sent a letter March 13 to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood outlining plans to allocate Indiana’s expected portion of federal stimulus funds for highway infrastructure, about $658 million, according to the letter.

Daniels has said his top priorities are to create jobs and obligate federal funds to state projects as quickly as possible.

The governor’s office estimates the stimulus funds for highway infrastructure will create or save about 11,480 jobs. In total, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates the federal stimulus package will create or save 75,000 Indiana jobs during the next two years.

According to the letter, more than $300 million has already been allocated to state highway projects. Another $48 million will be allocated at the end of April, and another $191 million will be allotted in May.

The Indiana Department of Transportation released its first two lists of projects for bid that will use federal stimulus funds in February and early March, and it expects to release a third list within the next two weeks.

The Department of Transportation is also responsible for distributing the $198 million in highway funding Indiana is expected to receive for local agencies. Project proposals from the state’s 14 metropolitan planning organizations are currently under review; local projects must be approved and allocated by March 2, 2010.

Bruce Childs, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the department has been meeting with metropolitan planning organizations and other local agencies to clarify guidelines on submitting project proposals for federal funding.

The meetings are helping local agencies better understand the procedures and timelines so they can make the most of available funds, he said.

“We’re moving down the trail really well on this, and I’m really happy with how we are communicating with local representatives,” Childs said.

Bloomington is part of the Department of Transportation’s Seymour District. Its meeting is scheduled for Friday.

In his letter to LaHood, Daniels said Indiana’s total investment in transportation infrastructure for 2009 will be approximately $2 billion, nearly double the largest annual investment in Indiana’s history.

“Because of our Toll Road transaction, Indiana has already shattered records for road building the past three years,” Daniels wrote in the letter. “These stimulus projects will come on top of that investment and reach even further.”