http://www.wthr.com/story/14371902/bill-would-give-governor-sole-authority-over-toll-road (http://www.wthr.com/story/14371902/bill-would-give-governor-sole-authority-over-toll-road)
This bill sounds very odd. It seems as if the governor has a plan to turn one of Indiana's highways into a toll road. First of all, does anyone know whether this means that the governor can change a highway to a toll road permanently until 2015, or if the highway would have to have the tolls removed by 2015? Also, does anyone have any ideas of what highway they would be talking about? If they can permanently change something to a toll road, I would guess maybe U.S. 31 in Hamilton County when that project is completed.
This article is half-finished and very unclear. My best guess is that the bill seeks to grant the governor and Indiana DOT the authority to create DBFOs for four years, at the end of which the DBFO authority might be renewed, but it is difficult to tell without having had sight of the bill.
Could it be to help with the Bridges project in Louisville? Also Indiana might be trying to scrape up more money to finish I-69 and I-67 (US-31) upgrades by the end of the decade.
I-70 is the one that I think of first (tolling all the lanes for the Truck Only Lanes).
It seems quite clear to me that the article means for the road to be tolled until 2015 (btw, only four years doesn't sound too permanent to me... permanent means forever).
I think it's saying that for four years, the governor would have this power, and then they would have to renew or terminate that clause.
This is refering to new construction toll roads. The governor proposed an outer belt of Indianapolis in the last session of the General Assembly, but that bill was shot down. This proposed law would give the governor the power to approve a new project without the meddling of the no nothings in the general assembly.
Quote from: tvketchum on April 03, 2011, 03:27:18 PM
This is refering to new construction toll roads. The governor proposed an outer belt of Indianapolis in the last session of the General Assembly, but that bill was shot down. This proposed law would give the governor the power to approve a new project without the meddling of the no nothings in the general assembly.
Ah, I had completely forgotten about that proposal. It does seem like a fairly large waste of money though when Metro Indianapolis could use public transportation more than new highways at this point.