Justin Schneider, Herald Bulletin
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is hitting the road on behalf of the Indiana Commerce Connector.
On Wednesday, INDOT and the office of Gov. Mitch Daniels announced their intention to spread word of the project throughout the state.
"We believe these highways are critical to Indiana's economic future," INDOT commissioner Karl B. Browning said in a prepared statement. "We want to hear what Hoosiers have to say, answer their questions and provide details."
On Nov. 9, Daniels proposed the construction of the Indiana Commerce Connector (ICC), an outerbelt tollway that would link four interstate highways - 65, 69, 70 and 74 - through Hendricks, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Hancock and Madison counties. At an estimated 75 miles, the ICC is designed to attract new economic opportunities to the state and to improve safety for motorists at a cost of $1.5 billion.
But Daniels' plan relies upon a public-private partnership to fund construction. That public-private partnership (P3) is contingent upon approval from the Indiana General Assembly.
"Right now our focus is on legislation that would allow the governor and the administration to explore P3 agreements for projects such as the Commerce Connector," said Jamie Jorczak, director of communications and marketing for INDOT during a visit to The Herald Bulletin.
"Our focus is not so much on breaking ground or where it's going to go, those things will come with our studies. Our focus right now is on the authority to explore that path."
On Monday, the opening day of the Legislature, bill 001 was introduced in the Indiana Senate. The bill would allow INDOT to explore P3 agreements and must be passed by mid-February to move onto the Indiana House before the end of the legislative session on April 29.
"The great thing about public-private partnerships is that it's an agreement between the government and business to build a road," Jorczak said. "The state government and the taxpayers will own the commerce connector. But it will be built, financed, designed, maintained and operated by a private company. They have incentive because they want to make a profit. The government doesn't have the same incentive."
Jorczak said INDOT will begin conducting research to prepare a request for proposal from various contractors who could partner with the state. But that research would be for naught if the proposed legislation fails.
"Some minimum groundwork has to be done so we can put together an RFP, request for proposal," said Jodi March, vice president of Sease, Gerig & Associates, a public relations firm hired by INDOT to assist its campaign. "Companies have to have some background material to justify their costs."
Should the bill find approval in the Senate, it would move on to the House, but state Sen. Tim Lanane, D-25, said in November that some serious questions need to be answered first.
"They want to take the tolls and transfer them from southern Indiana to central Indiana," he said. "I'm trying to weigh in mind how much economic development it would mean for Madison County."
Daniels said in November that jobs are his primarily goal with the ICC.
"The simplest and most important statement to bear in mind is roads equal jobs," Daniels said. He said the project offers "tremendous opportunities to bring jobs, employment and a higher standard of living to the Crossroads of America."