INDOT Awards $126 Million for Local Infrastructure Projects
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The Indiana Department of Transportation and Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced that local government agencies have received a combined $126.5 million in state matching funds to support infrastructure construction projects.
The funding, which was made possible through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative, will be dispersed across 214 cities, towns and counties. Community Crossings, which was created by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by Holcomb in 2017, has awarded more than $738 million in state matching funds to local government agencies since its inception.
“Hoosier communities are able to take on more needed road work and do it in record time thanks to Community Crossings,” Holcomb said. “Our commitment to partnering with cities, towns and counties on vital infrastructure helps build strong communities poised for investment and job growth.”
Holcomb
The purpose of the program is to improve economic vitality by helping communities with projects such as road resurfacing and preservation, bridge rehabilitation and replacement, drainage work and road reconstruction to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, some 6% of Indiana’s bridges are classified as structurally deficient.
According to INDOT, this latest round of funding attracted more applications than there were dollars available. At the request of local government agencies, INDOT accepts applications for the program in January and July. There is a $1 million cap annually per community for local government agencies interested in applying.
McGuinness
About $100 million will be available for communities interested in applying during July.
“INDOT’s mission is to build and maintain Indiana’s transportation, to grow our economy and enhance the quality of life in Indiana,” INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said. “Through Community Crossings, we’re able to take that commitment to local roads, not just our highways. This sustained investment by the state makes sure that the Crossroads of America is maintained from the first mile to the last mile.”
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To be considered for funding, local government agencies must provide matching funds from a source approved for road and bridge construction. Larger communities must match 50%, while smaller ones must match 25%. They also are required to submit an asset management plan approved by INDOT for maintaining existing roads and bridges.
The funding is meant to help smaller communities, although all Indiana government agencies representing cities, towns and counties may apply. State law requires that 50% of the available matching funds annually be awarded to communities within counties that have populations of 50,000 or fewer.
In October 2019, INDOT divided $99.2 million across 229 cities, towns and counties for local road projects through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative.
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