EDITORIAL: Major Moves now vital to Indiana road upkeep

 “Revenues (for maintenance) are needed and we’re going to be challenged.” – Michael Cline, state transportation commissioner, November 2012

Bottom line: Major Moves ran out of money two years early, and Hoosiers will pay for it one way or another.

Since Daniels launched his 10-year road program in late 2005, most of the attention has been on new highway projects. And Daniels delivered – with major progress or completion of vital projects that include the Interstate 69 extension; U.S. 31 improvements; the U.S. 24 Fort-to-Port project; and the last leg of the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, Indiana 25 from Logansport to Lafayette. But Major Moves also included $5.2 billion to maintain roads the state already had, money that was to come from existing revenue while the Indiana Toll Road lease helped pay for the new roads.

Daniels did not have to recommend a gas tax increase, but it doesn’t appear Indiana will be able to keep that tax flat even for the duration of the Major Moves plan. Now, the maintenance well has run dry, and Hoosiers either will have to pay more to state government or incur the costs of additional time as well as lower auto mileage and repairs from driving on rougher roads. Most likely, it will be a combination of the two.