Illiana Expressway, Indiana Commerce Connector clear first legislative hurdle

Times of Northwest Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate panel approved legislation this morning that would allow Gov. Daniels to seek private partners to build an Illiana Expressway in Northwest Indiana and another tollway outside Indianapolis.

The Senate Transportation Committee voted 8-3 in favor of the Senate Bill 1, with state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, joining seven Republicans to support the measure. The vote came after the panel adopted a Rogers amendment creating legislative oversight committees to advise Daniels and the state transportation department on the planning and construction of the two tollways.

As proposed by Daniels, the Illiana Expressway would connect Interstate 57 in Illinois with Interstate 65 in Lake County and then curve north to Interstate 94 in LaPorte County. The Indiana Commerce Connector would connect four existing interstates south and east of Indianapolis.

SB 1 now appears headed to the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee for further deliberation.