House approves funding for study of Illiana Expressway western leg

The House on Thursday passed an amendment to a transportation bill authored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, calling for a state-funded study of the western part of the controversial proposed expressway.

The measure allows only a study of the proposal. It does not give the governor authority to enter into a public-private partnership for a company to build the Illiana.

"Let me repeat: There is no P-3 authority in this amendment," Soliday said while explaining his plan, an acknowledgement that much of the opposition in Northwest Indiana to an earlier bill focused on the power it would have given Gov. Mitch Daniels to pursue such a contract to build the Illiana after a study was finished.

Soliday's amendment sets a two-year time limit on the study, and caps the state's payment for the work at $2 million. The study would look only at the western leg of the proposal, from Interstate 57 in Illinois to Interstate 65.

Soliday's amendment would create a bipartisan committee composed of four senators and four representatives to which The Indiana Department of Transportation would report the findings of the feasibility study.

The measure stipulates at least four of the eight members of the committee come from Lake County.

"We can't decide whether to do anything until we have accurate information about whether this would work," Soliday said. "Let's get that information."

Gov. Mitch Daniels recently abandoned his active support of a privately built expressway in the face of vociferous opposition, especially from residents who live in the vicinity of an eastern portion of the road that would connect I-65 to I-94.

But Daniels said he would like to see the western part proceed, because he believes Lake County residents want the highway.

Soliday's measure will next return to the Senate for further consideration.