By ANNIE GOELLER, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer
About half of the legislators who represent Johnson County said they had mixed feelings about a beltway proposed by the governor. All said they wanted to learn more.
The governor proposed a toll road Thursday that would begin at Interstate 69 near Pendleton and go around Marion County on the east and south sides, crossing Johnson County, and end at Interstate 70 near Mooresville.
Gov. Mitch Daniels said Thursday he would ask lawmakers to transfer tolling authority from the planned extension of I-69 to the newly proposed beltway, meaning the I-69 extension would be free.
Now, officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation need to do research to estimate the cost, the route, the toll rates and revenues, and all other information needed to move ahead, said Jane Jankowski, press secretary for the governor.
At this point, the number of lanes, how many exits the road will have and the cost of tolls are unknown. More information will be provided in the future, she said.
Lawmakers said that information would be important in deciding whether they would support the governor's proposal.
State Rep. Woody Burton, a Republican who represents parts of Franklin, Whiteland and Greenwood, said he likely wouldn't oppose a privately funded road that could bring businesses to communities such as Franklin and allow motorists to make the trip to the new Honda plant in Decatur County in about 25 minutes.
"The concept and what they're telling me looks pretty good," he said.
Burton said he plans to have town meetings in the coming months to get feedback from local residents and business owners on their feelings of the project. If they are against the beltway, he said he would listen to their concerns and take those into consideration.
Three other representatives said they initially were weighing both negative and positive parts of the plan and would need more information before deciding whether they would support or oppose the beltway.
State Rep. Ralph Foley, a Republican who represents Union and Hensley townships, said he could see positive and negative sides to the proposal.
He was excited about the potential for jobs, especially where the route crosses existing highways, and that I-69 would be free; but he said he understands the concern from residents, especially ones whose land the highway would affect.
"People who are in the path of the highway are very concerned about their property. In a sense, it's the not-in-my-backyard syndrome, but it's certainly understandable. I'm excited because it resolves some issues, but is it perfect, is it exactly what I would do? Probably not," he said.
Another county legislator, State Rep. David Frizzell said he also liked the governor's proposal to make the I-69 extension toll-free.
Frizzell, a Republican, said he wanted to look more closely into the issue and get more information before deciding if he would support it.
The plan doesn't directly affect White River Township, the area he represents, but he said he still was interested in the effects the toll road would have on the county as a whole.
"It could be a job creator, for sure. Of course, you'll have people that will lose property because of it," he said.
His initial response was that the proposal seemed like a good idea, but he is awaiting more details from the governor.
Newly elected Greg Walker, who will serve as the state senator for District 41, said he hadn't heard much about the plan but that he was curious of the impact it would have on the area he will soon represent.
"I still want to research it. It dips well into the district," said Walker, a Republican who will represent all of Nineveh, Blue River, Needham and Franklin townships and part of Pleasant Township.