Illiana Expressway: 8/19/07

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Mitch Daniels Speaks About Illiana Expressway And Indiana Toll Road Privatization

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke with the Northwest Indiana Times' editors yesterday about a wide ranging series of topics, including the proposed Illiana Expressway which is currently being studied for construction from I-65 to I-57 in Illinois and the effects of privatizing the Indiana Toll Road.

Mitch Daniels told the Times that his suggestion to extend the Illiana Expressway past I-65 to form a loop connecting with I-94 was "what spurred most of the yelling and I understand that."

Despite the vocal opposition raised by people opposed to extending the Illiana Expressway into Porter County, Mitch Daniels hopes to be able to extend in proposed interstate to I-94 one of these days. "I hope we can keep the conversation going," said Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Daniels also spoke about the effects of privatization of the Indiana Toll Road. Despite some problems with signage advising which lanes are designed for I-Zoom / EZ-Pass / I-Pass toll collection and some backups at toll plazas caused the confusion and some grumbling by union members, Daniels said that the interested made from the Indiana Toll Road lease brought in more money for the state than the Indiana Toll Road did during its first 50 years.

Labels: Gov. Mitch Daniels, Illiana Expressway, Indiana Toll Road

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Illiana Makes Fed's 'Corridors' List"

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Bloggers' Thoughts On Soliday's Anger At INDOT's Illiana Expressway Financing Focus

The blog world lit up with the news that Valparaiso Rep. Ed Soliday was angry with INDOT's limited focus on financing options for the proposed Illiana Expressway. Soliday said in news reports that all financing options should be examined, not just private options.

Writes Taking Down Words:

Republican State Rep. Ed Soliday is seriously pissed off at the Indiana Department of Transportation ...

Thomas of Blue Indiana writes that the optimist in him is rejoicing in seeing an elected official voicing the concerns of his constituents, but the cynic sees the move as an attempt to move away from Gov. Mitch Daniels before election time.

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

Labels: Blue Indiana, Illiana Expressway, Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee, Rep. Ed Soliday, Taking Down Words