Rep. Soliday Says INDOT Violating Law With Illiana Expressway Study

GOP Rep. Ed Soliday says that INDOT is violating the Illiana Expressway study legislation by limiting its focus to the private financing option pushed by Governor Mitch Daniels, reports the Northwest Indiana Times. Soliday said in a news release that the intent of the Illiana Expressway legislation was to explore all feasible financing options.

Soliday says he is willing to take the agency to court. He argues INDOT is violating state law by pursuing a feasibility study of the proposed highway that would examine only one financing option -- the private tollway model championed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Taking Down Words published Rep. Ed Soliday's news release detailing his concerns that INDOT wasn't following the intent of the Illiana Expressway legislation:

"Today, State Representative Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Karl B. Browning copying Governor Daniels requesting that INDOT reconsider their decision to focus exclusively on a public-private partnership arrangement as the funding source for the Illiana Expressway, but rather explore all feasible funding options available.

"'My intention of the amendment to Senate Enrolled Act 105 was to have the firm who is chosen by INDOT to conduct the feasibility study of the Illiana Expressway explore all reasonable funding options,' said Soliday. 'I am disappointed that the true spirit and intent of this amendment was apparently overlooked because my careful effort to explicitly enumerate this objective was how I was able to gain strong bipartisan support for this language. It is my hope that the officials at INDOT will reconsider their decision.'

"'The Governor and I both took an oath to uphold the laws of the state of Indiana and an unbiased feasibility study is clearly critical to ensure public confidence in both our offices.'

"Representative Soliday is requesting alternatives to current INDOT direction in the RFP process. These alternatives need to be compliant with 2007 SB105 which was signed into law by the Governor earlier this year."

Blue Indiana weighs in with additional commentary about the Illiana Expressway flap regarding interstate highway privatization:

As Rep. Soliday knows, this isn't exactly a popular idea with, you know, the ordinary Hoosiers who drive on these roads every day.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

Illiana Expressway Could Be Reality By 2018

The Indiana Department of Transportation's Illiana Expressway Phase 2 Grant Application for designation of the proposed highway as a Corridor of the Future contains the following timeline that suggests that if all goes as planned, the Illiana Expressway could be reality by 2018.

See Illiana Expressway Phase 2 Grant Proposal, section 10-1.

Through the Bi-state Agreement between Illinois and Indiana, the general scope of a feasibility study of the Illiana Corridor has been developed. This process has reached another milestone in Indiana Governor Daniels’ recent signing of legislation which directs the Indiana DOT to perform a needs assessment for the Illiana Corridor.

The study will provide a description of the need for an Illiana Expressway, projections for right-of-way acquisition costs, expected use of the proposed expressway and any toll revenues, expected construction costs, expected operating and maintenance costs, funding options, the project’s ability to relieve traffic congestion, and economic impacts.

By following the INDOT EA/Corridor Study Process, this phase of project development will result in a reasonable range of alternatives that may proceed directly into an EIS. The study is to be completed by July 1, 2009.

Following development of the feasibility study, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be completed. This process, which typically takes five years for such projects, will conclude with a record of decision (ROD). Acceleration of this timeframe is possible for the Illiana Corridor because some of the EIS activities are to be conducted in the feasibility study.

Accordingly, a ROD could be achieved by July 1, 2012, two years earlier than with the traditional approach which would result in a ROD by mid-2014.

Final design and engineering will begin on issuance of the ROD. On similar projects, based on a traditional project delivery approach this process would take another four years, combined with right-of-way acquisition, after which construction would commence, in approximately mid-2018.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

INDOT Submits Illiana Expressway Corridors of the Future Application Phase 2

The Indiana Department of Transportation has submitted its Phase 2 application on behalf of the proposed Illiana Expressway being built as a "Corridor of the Future."

Here are links INDOT's Illiana Expressway COF proposal (in PDF):
Part I -- Illiana Expressway and Freight Corridor, Corridors of the Future, Phase 2
Part II -- Illiana Expressway and Freight Corridor, Corridors of the Future, Phase 2

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

Rep. Ed Soliday Blasts INDOT's Focus On Private Cash For Illiana Expressway

Valparaiso Rep. Ed Soliday sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation complaining that the state transportation agency is pushing for private cash funding of the proposed Illiana Expressway and not exploring all options, as he says is required by the Illiana Expressway legislation.

Soliday -- a member of the Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee -- sent the letter Thursday.

Reports the Post-Tribune:

"In my opinion as the author of the provision, this directly contradicts the spirit and intention of the legislation," Soliday wrote.

The Northwest Indiana Times writes:

State law calls for financing options to be included in the study. But Soliday said the bid request that went out to consultants shows the state only is interested in the privately financed tollway model advocated by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.

"Right now, I don't think they're in compliance with the spirit, intent and letter of the law," Soliday said, adding that attorneys he has spoken with agree. "It appears they defaulted to a (public-private partnership), which is what they wanted to do all along ... I think their credibility is at risk. I think my credibility is at risk."

It seems to me that the whole Illiana Expressway proposal has always been touted as a public-private partnership project -- per Gov. Mitch Daniels' philosophy -- so it shouldn't seem surprising that the state would seek to gain funding for the Illiana Expressway using private money as the first resort, rather than looking for additional state funds during a time when taxpayers all over the state are in virtual revolt over substantial property tax increases. But, I can see Rep. Ed Soliday's point in wanting to explore all options for financing the project so that the best proposals can be selected and implemented -- whether they are public or private or some combination of the both.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

Illiana Expressway Facts and Indiana Code Citations

Some quick Illiana Expressway facts and Indiana Code citations:

Illiana Expressway legally defined -- Indiana Code 8-23-27-2:

As used in this chapter, "Illiana expressway" refers to a new interstate quality highway connecting Interstate Highway 57 in Illinois to Interstate Highway 65 in Indiana.

The Illiana Expressway will be a tolled interstate highway, according to Indiana Department of Transportation documents.

From the Illiana Expressway Request For Proposals question form (PDF):

At this time INDOT is intending to determine the overall feasibility of developing the ILLIANA Expressway as a tolled facility, minimizing or entirely eliminating the need for State funding contributions. Therefore, any innovative financing opportunities would be of interest.

The legislation providing for the Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee will investigate and issue a report to the governor -- see Indiana Code 8-23-27-2:

Prepare a report to be submitted to the governor and to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 regarding the committee's determination of whether the proposed Illiana expressway project is recommended by the committee.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

Who's On The Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee?

Curious to see who is on the Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee?

The Indiana General Assembly has made it easy to see who is on the Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee by setting up a page listing the committee members and legislative staff assistants.

Here are the current members:

Sen. Sue Landske, Chairperson

Sen. Brandt Hershman

Sen. Earline Rogers

Sen. Karen Tallian

Rep. Terri Austin

Rep. David Niezgodski

Rep. Ed Soliday

Rep. Don Lehe

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee Sue Landske Brandt Hershman Earline Rogers Karen Tallian Terri Austin David Niezgodski Ed Soliday Don Lehe

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

Why The Illiana Expressway Is Bad For Northwest Indiana

The newspapers, politicians who approved a highway feasibility study and business people think the Illiana Expressway will be good for Indiana.

Sandy O'Brien, Dunelands Sierra Club chair explains in a position paper why the Illiana Expressway is bad for the Chicago Southland and Northwest Indiana for various reasons including, environmental justice, sprawl and the changing nature of our world with issues of high oil prices and global warming altering transportation necessities.

We can't afford the Illiana even if it is "free" and even if it comes with an upfront contribution payment for commuter rail.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

More Congestion In Store Without Alternate Routes?

Will Northwest Indiana solve its transportation problems without additional road construction? The Northwest Indiana Times opines that region motorists should think carefully about the consequences of not planning for additional roadways.

This year, the Indiana General Assembly was considering a plan to study whether to build the Illiana Expressway between I-94 in LaPorte County and I-57 in Illinois. The road was proposed as a way to unclog the Borman.

The loud public outcry against the study -- not the road itself, but simply a feasibility study -- caused the Legislature to approve only a study of a truncated route linking I-65 and I-57.

People driving the region's roads should consider the consequences.

The region's location makes it a logical choice for the transportation, distribution and logistics industry. Intermodal facilities here could help relieve the bottleneck for rail freight traffic in and out of Chicago. That means even more traffic will be using the region's highways -- adding to the congestion if nothing else changes.

It takes many years to move a new highway from a concept to a completed route. The time to plan new routes is now, before the region becomes so heavily developed that new routes are hard to plot.

My prediction. Additional roadways will have to be built in this area to alleviate traffic jams and to facilitate new job creation. The Illiana Expressway will be built because to not build means a future of traffic jams stretching from the Chicago Southland to Berrien County, Michigan.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads

I-Zoom Doesn't Describe Indiana's EZ-Pass Woes

The news from the Indiana Toll Road -- now that the new Indiana EZ-Pass system dubbed I-Zoom has been in effect -- is that people or the toll road or both -- don't know what they are doing.

The Post-Tribune opines:

TR Concession, the company that took over running the Indiana Toll Road last year, would like us to think drivers in the miles of cars that have been sitting outside the toll booths just can't figure out which lanes to pull into or how to use their I-Passes or other electronic payment boxes. Many are the same drivers who are cruising through the Skyway tolls with their I-Passes, only to meet a parking lot on the Indiana side.

One recent Sunday, the company had only one lane devoted to electronic passes, backing up traffic for miles. The company blames most of the backups on cash-paying drivers who are wrongly pulling into the Toll Road's left two lanes, which are designated for electronic payments only.

The problem is, the Toll Road's new electronic lane design expects drivers trained by the Skyway setup to suddenly veer left for I-Pass payments instead of right, as they do on the Skyway. The signs announcing the lanes are poor and confusing.

Too bad that isn't the only bad news for EZ-Pass users. It seems that divorce attorneys are using EZ-Pass records to track spouses in domestic relations cases.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads