Illiana Expressway hearing set for Feb. 18 at Crown Point High

INDIANAPOLIS | A public hearing on the proposed Illiana Expressway will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 in the auditorium at Crown Point High School, 1500 S. Main St.

The public testimony will be part of a special session of the House Roads and Transportation Committee, chaired by state Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson.

Speakers will be allowed three minutes to address the committee. The committee also will accept written testimony that will be published on the committee's Web site.

Austin said she wants input from Northwest Indiana residents before crafting an amendment to legislation already approved by the Senate that adds the Illiana to the state's list of roads that can be built as a public-private partnership.

The Illiana Expressway is a proposed toll road connecting Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55 near Joliet, Ill.

Austin said she wants specific guidelines concerning public-private partnerships written into law before any Illiana deal is approved. However, Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and state Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, have said her proposed guidelines would slow down the approval process and possibly eliminate any benefit that might come from a public-private partnership.

Doors to the auditorium will open at 6. The event is scheduled to end at 9:30 p.m.