30 years later, INDOT still can't relinquish Old U.S. 50 through Washington

[jnewkirk77]

If you drive through Washington, Indiana and travel along National Highway (also variously referred to as "Old 50" or "Business 50," depending on who's talking), you may not realize that it's still technically a state highway.

INDOT's tried for years to get Washington to take the road, but its sorry condition hasn't helped the state sell it.

Four mayors have negotiated to no avail to get INDOT to make much-needed repairs, but there's been no deal.  Will current mayor Joe Wellman be the one to get it done?

The local paper has done a pretty good story on this:

http://www.washtimesherald.com/news/local_news/a-fight-to-fix/article_2ba3a02c-2b73-55d8-b5ea-6098502b7b07.html

[silverback1065]

interesting, I never knew that.  INDOT needs to just agree to terms, and be done with it

[Life in Paradise]

With INDOT shedding themselves of all of these city highways, what are they doing with the extra money that they have not needed for maintenance?  Has their budget been cut?  Have they plowed it into other projects?  They saved themselves a boatload of money by having Indianapolis agree (and as I understand the city has to agree to it) to taking over maintenance of the former state and US highways inside I-465.  Those former highways alone need tens of millions of dollars of work.

[NWI_Irish96]

With INDOT shedding themselves of all of these city highways, what are they doing with the extra money that they have not needed for maintenance?  Has their budget been cut?  Have they plowed it into other projects?  They saved themselves a boatload of money by having Indianapolis agree (and as I understand the city has to agree to it) to taking over maintenance of the former state and US highways inside I-465.  Those former highways alone need tens of millions of dollars of work.

In most cases, the state gives the city/county money in exchange for taking over maintenance of the highway.

[2trailertrucker]

With INDOT shedding themselves of all of these city highways, what are they doing with the extra money that they have not needed for maintenance?  Has their budget been cut?  Have they plowed it into other projects?  They saved themselves a boatload of money by having Indianapolis agree (and as I understand the city has to agree to it) to taking over maintenance of the former state and US highways inside I-465.  Those former highways alone need tens of millions of dollars of work.

In most cases, the state gives the city/county money in exchange for taking over maintenance of the highway.

That is what happened when Hendricks county took over 267 from Brownsburg to Plainfield. It definatley
looks like a county road now, except for the bridge over the railroad tracks in Avon and a couple of roundabouts.

[silverback1065]

i feel like this is happening in Boswell too, it looks like old 41 might still be owned by INDOT, not sure if this is true, but it still looks like it could be. 

[jnewkirk77]

i feel like this is happening in Boswell too, it looks like old 41 might still be owned by INDOT, not sure if this is true, but it still looks like it could be.

I don't think it still is ... the signs along it are all "300 W," so I would guess it's a county road.

[silverback1065]

i feel like this is happening in Boswell too, it looks like old 41 might still be owned by INDOT, not sure if this is true, but it still looks like it could be.

I don't think it still is ... the signs along it are all "300 W," so I would guess it's a county road.

ok that makes sense, it just looks like it's still a state road for some reason

[jnewkirk77]

Agreed. Last time I was up that way, quite a few signs along the road were still state-installed. Old, yes, but state.

[edwaleni]

"INDOT asked that the counter proposal be kept confidential"

Not possible for a public agency. 1 FOIA would reveal it.

The issue is once terms are agreed it will set a precedent for hundreds of other Indiana towns who want to do the same thing, get their state owned roads fixed.

I would suspect that this part of Washington has the lowest number of speeding tickets than any other part of town.

[jnewkirk77]

"INDOT asked that the counter proposal be kept confidential"

Not possible for a public agency. 1 FOIA would reveal it.

The issue is once terms are agreed it will set a precedent for hundreds of other Indiana towns who want to do the same thing, get their state owned roads fixed.

I would suspect that this part of Washington has the lowest number of speeding tickets than any other part of town.

Drivers are too busy dodging potholes to exceed the limit! (Or at least it was like that last time I drove through.)