November 29, 2018

Holcomb Won't Pursue New Tolling On Indiana Highways

Original story from   IPBS-RJC

Article origination IPBS-RJC
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he won’t move forward with a plan to toll Indiana’s interstate highways. - Ken Lund/Flickr

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he won’t move forward with a plan to toll Indiana’s interstate highways.

Ken Lund/Flickr

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday he won’t move forward with a plan to toll Indiana’s interstate highways.

The comprehensive 2017 road funding bill required a study of tolling.

The results suggest tolls on major highways could help ensure long-term, sustainable road funding – especially as current revenues from gas taxes begin to decline, likely within the next decade.

But the study also says such a system would be complicated and take a long time to set up – at least four years to collect the first toll and decades to fully flesh out a statewide system.

Holcomb says Indiana’s current road needs are adequately funded by that 2017 bill. And he says while he won’t pursue tolling, he had the Department of Transportation create a strategic plan for future leaders to consider.

That plan focuses on open road tolling – meaning no toll booths. And it centers on I-65, I-70, and I-94. The plan estimates tolls could eventually generate around $1 billion a year.

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